Ebola: How Nigerians can prevent infection

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A woman who recently traveled from Uganda to Nigeria developed the disease after being admitted to a private hospital in the FCT. Public health teams are actively conducting contact tracing to identify and monitor potential exposure to the virus.

As of now, 44 contacts have been identified, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, and travel contacts. The government urges the public to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the blood or other body fluids of suspected Ebola patients, and remain calm during the contact tracing process. Healthcare workers must follow infection prevention and control measures when caring for suspected or confirmed cases.

Communities are advised to ensure that burials are conducted safely and with dignity, following traditional practices that do not involve direct contact with the body of someone who died from Ebola. Early supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of symptoms, can improve the survival rate of Ebola patients.