…Pate says patient improving, high-risk contacts quarantined
…Warns politicians against politicising outbreak
The Federal Government has ruled out any immediate cancellation of political campaigns, conferences and other major public gatherings over the imported Ebola case in Nigeria, insisting that there is no evidence the virus has spread into communities.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, gave the assurance on Thursday, disclosing that the patient was responding to treatment while high-risk contacts had been quarantined as authorities intensified efforts to contain the infection.
Pate, who spoke at a press conference, said the government would consider restrictions on public gatherings only if the situation changed and scientific evidence justified such measures.
“At this moment, there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned. But if the situation changes, we’ll make a determination, we’ll consult broadly with the right experts and make that determination,” he said.
The minister disclosed that the patient’s laboratory results were showing significant improvement, raising hopes of recovery, although he cautioned that medical teams were continuing their efforts to ensure her survival.
“Thankfully, that individual has been taken care of and, in fact, is recovering. Today, I spoke to the clinicians, and I understand that lab results are showing great improvement and there’s a possibility that she would recover from this,” he said.
He added: “But we cannot hold our breath. We have to continue to pray and work hard to ensure that she survives it.”
According to the minister, the patient was asymptomatic when she arrived in Nigeria but developed symptoms a few days later, prompting health authorities to initiate contact tracing following confirmation of the infection.
He said contacts linked to the hospital, the patient’s household and a private medical facility she had visited had been identified and assessed according to their levels of exposure.
While high-risk contacts had been placed in a designated quarantine facility, others were being isolated in line with established public health guidelines.
Pate said the immediate priority was to prevent further transmission and stop the infection from spreading into the wider population.
“At this moment, there is no evidence to indicate that it has gone into the communities,” he said, adding that the government remained vigilant and was not taking any aspect of the response for granted.
Pate Warns Politicians
The minister warned political leaders against politicising the outbreak, describing public health as a shared national concern that should transcend partisan, ethnic and religious differences.
He urged politicians to separate their political disagreements from the management of the health emergency, insisting that decisions on restrictions must be guided by scientific evidence and the need to protect lives.
“If there is one issue that will unite Nigerians, it is health, because health has no political party, has no citizenship, has no nationality, has no tribe, no religion. It is a great unifier,” he said.
Pate said the government would not allow political considerations to undermine decisions necessary to prevent avoidable deaths.
He also appealed to journalists and other information providers to rely on credible sources and avoid spreading rumours and misinformation that could weaken public confidence in the response.
The minister said Nigeria had the expertise and institutional capacity to manage the situation, noting that the country had successfully responded to Ebola in the past.
He disclosed that the latest case was diagnosed, confirmed and reported to the World Health Organisation within 24 hours of public health authorities being notified.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is coordinating the day-to-day response in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state governments and other relevant agencies.
Pate said the Federal Government had mobilised additional resources for the response, while states had been directed to strengthen their preparedness and complete outstanding emergency response plans.
He added that the government was working with the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside local experts, to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and outbreak management.
Ebola Not Airborne, Minister Says
Pate explained that Ebola is not an airborne disease, noting that it is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids.
He advised Nigerians to maintain good personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly, avoid unnecessary contact with other people’s bodily fluids and promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities.
People experiencing fever, headaches or muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, were advised to isolate themselves and contact public health authorities.
The minister said hospitals had been directed to prepare isolation facilities and strengthen infection prevention measures to protect patients and healthcare workers.
He also called on private healthcare providers to remain alert and promptly notify public health authorities of suspected cases, noting that the infected patient had visited a private facility before the diagnosis was confirmed.
Pate further disclosed that the government was strengthening screening and surveillance at the country’s points of entry, including ensuring that thermal imaging equipment was functional and that risk assessments were consistent with international health regulations.
He said Nigeria was also exploring genomic sequencing of the virus to improve understanding of the infection, with support from Professor Christian Happi, a genomics expert based at Redeemer’s University, Ede.
The minister said traditional and religious leaders had been engaged to support public awareness and encourage Nigerians to comply with preventive measures.
He noted that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the spread of cases to other countries underscored the importance of regional cooperation and heightened surveillance.
Pate urged Nigerians to cooperate with contact tracers and strictly comply with quarantine and isolation instructions, warning that failure to follow public health advice could put others at risk.
“We don’t want it to go beyond it, and there is no need to panic, but we have to be vigilant,” he said.
