Ebola: Lagos is prepared to respond — Commissioner

The Lagos State government says it has stepped up preparedness measures and is prepared to respond following Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said Lagos remains on “high alert and preparedness” and is treating the situation as a priority.

“Lagos is a gateway city with constant movement to and from Abuja, and we are treating this as a priority,” Mr Abayomi said in a statement posted on X on Friday.

He said the state’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) had been working ahead of the confirmation, with measures being put in place across surveillance, isolation, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control.

‘Lagos is prepared’

Mr Abayomi said response teams are conducting simulation exercises to ensure that responders understand their roles before they are needed.

He said the state’s isolation centre has also been upgraded, while additional capacity is being developed.

He noted that training on infection prevention and control is continuing for health workers across public and private health facilities.

The commissioner said Lagos is also establishing a clear laboratory testing pathway, aiming to obtain results within 24 hours.

He noted that screening at airports and other points of entry is being strengthened in collaboration with federal authorities, while disease surveillance is being digitally enhanced on the state’s digital health surveillance platform to support real-time detection, tracing and response.

A “dedicated Ebola Research Committee” is also reviewing the latest evidence on treatment and vaccines to guide the state’s decisions.

Advice to residents

The commissioner urged residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and water and avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone who is ill.

He advised anyone who develops fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, or believes they may have been exposed, not to self-medicate.

“If you develop fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, or think you have been exposed, do not self-medicate. Call before visiting a health facility,” he said.

Mr Abayomi also urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, ask about patients’ travel history and use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Residents can report suspected cases or possible exposure through “the Lagos emergency numbers, 112 or 767, or the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health on 0802 316 9485.”

The commissioner urged residents to remain calm, stay alert and rely on official information from the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

Lagos’ 2014 experience

The government’s preparedness comes against the backdrop of Lagos’ experience during Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian diplomat infected with Ebola, arrived in Lagos on 20 July 2014. He was admitted to a private hospital in the city, where the disease was subsequently confirmed.

Nigeria recorded 20 Ebola cases during the outbreak, including eight deaths, before the country was declared free of Ebola transmission on 20 October 2014 after 42 days without a new case.

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Nationwide response

The federal government continues to urge states to strengthen their response systems.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said 21 states have updated their Ebola response plans, while the remaining 15 states are being urged to expedite their preparedness and response mechanisms.

The government has also called on healthcare facilities nationwide to strengthen infection prevention and control, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases and report them to public health authorities.

Nigeria currently has one confirmed imported Ebola case, while 44 contacts of the patient are being monitored.