The Lagos State Government has intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, assuring residents that there is currently no confirmed case in Lagos.
The State Ministry of Health, through its Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, is strengthening disease monitoring, public awareness and community engagement while working with relevant agencies at entry points, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), to ensure early detection and a prompt response to any suspected case.
As part of these efforts, the ministry has engaged airport management, Port Health Services and other aviation and public health stakeholders to assess passenger screening, information sharing, infection prevention and control, and emergency response coordination. Public enlightenment campaigns are also being intensified to educate residents on Ebola symptoms, transmission and prevention.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and potentially fatal illness transmitted mainly through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of infected people showing symptoms, contaminated materials, or the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contact with infected animals.
Symptoms usually appear between two and 21 days after exposure and include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur.
Residents who develop symptoms, particularly after possible exposure or travel from an area experiencing an outbreak, are advised to seek prompt medical assessment. Since early Ebola symptoms may resemble malaria and other common illnesses, Lagos maintains a policy requiring people with fever to undergo a malaria rapid diagnostic test before taking antimalarial medication. Those who test negative should receive further medical assessment to determine the cause of their illness.
The government has urged residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick people, refrain from handling potentially contaminated materials and stay away from sick or dead wild animals. The public is also advised to rely on verified information and avoid spreading rumours.
Travellers, especially those arriving from areas reporting Ebola transmission, are encouraged to cooperate with Port Health Services and authorised officials, provide accurate travel and health information, and follow public health guidance. Anyone who develops symptoms during travel or after arrival should notify the appropriate health personnel and seek guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
Airlines and airport operators are expected to maintain established public health protocols, while travellers are advised to follow official updates from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Anyone who suspects exposure to Ebola, particularly following contact with a suspected or confirmed case, should contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
Suspected cases or exposure concerns in Lagos can be reported through the State emergency numbers 112 or 767, or by contacting the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health on 0802 316 9485.
The Lagos State Government said it would continue monitoring developments, strengthening surveillance and response readiness, coordinating with relevant stakeholders and providing verified updates when necessary.
Residents have been urged to remain calm, observe preventive measures and follow official public health announcements, as early detection and prompt reporting remain essential to saving lives.