The World Health Organization, WHO, has officially confirmed that Nigeria currently has no case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, following the successful medical evacuation of a suspected patient to Switzerland for further treatment and advanced diagnostic evaluation.
The confirmation was contained in an official statement released by the global health body on Monday, where it sought to clarify the true situation and calm public anxiety that had been fuelled by unverified reports circulating on social media and other platforms.
According to the WHO, the individual who had earlier been placed under close medical observation in Nigeria after showing symptoms suggestive of Ebola Virus Disease has been evacuated out of the country to a specialized treatment facility in Switzerland, in line with established international health protocols and best practices.
The organization explained that the evacuation was carried out following due consultations with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant international health authorities, to ensure that the patient receives the highest standard of care while additional confirmatory tests are conducted abroad.
With the completion of the evacuation exercise, WHO stated unequivocally that as of today, there is no suspected or confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease remaining anywhere within Nigeria’s borders, and the country should therefore be regarded as Ebola-free.
The clarification by WHO became imperative after rumours and misleading reports began to spread rapidly across social media, claiming that Nigeria was secretly managing multiple suspected cases of Ebola and that a fresh outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic fever was imminent in the country.
The false reports had triggered widespread panic and apprehension among citizens, with many Nigerians expressing fears that the nation could be heading towards a repeat of the 2014 Ebola outbreak that claimed eight lives, including that of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who died while trying to contain the virus.
In its statement, WHO described the rumours as false, baseless and misleading, urging members of the public to disregard such unverified information and to remain calm, as there is no evidence of Ebola transmission in Nigeria at the moment.
The organization also commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, and the State Ministry of Health where the suspected case was identified, for their swift, professional and transparent handling of the situation.
It noted that immediately the suspected case was identified, the patient was promptly isolated in line with infection prevention and control guidelines, all close contacts were identified, listed and placed under daily monitoring, and appropriate public health measures were activated without delay.
WHO further disclosed that blood samples collected from the patient were subjected to initial laboratory testing in Nigeria at the National Reference Laboratory, and the results did not confirm Ebola Virus Disease, but as a matter of extra precaution, the samples and the patient were referred to Switzerland for more advanced confirmatory testing.
It explained that the medical evacuation of patients with suspected highly infectious diseases to countries with biosafety level 4 laboratories and specialized isolation facilities is a standard practice in global public health, and should not be misinterpreted as an indication of an outbreak.
Corroborating the position of WHO, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, in a separate statement issued in Abuja, also confirmed that Nigeria is currently free of Ebola and that there is no cause for alarm.
The Director-General of the NCDC said the agency’s surveillance and emergency preparedness systems remain fully activated, with health officials across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory placed on high alert to detect, report and respond to any unusual health event.
He added that port health services at all international airports, seaports and major land borders have been directed to intensify screening of all inbound passengers, particularly those arriving from countries that have reported confirmed cases of Ebola in recent weeks.
The NCDC boss also advised Nigerians to continue to observe basic personal and environmental hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing with soap and running water, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, avoiding close contact with persons showing symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
The agency further advised citizens to avoid direct contact with bats, monkeys and other wild animals, to avoid consumption of bush meat, and to ensure that all animal products and meat are properly washed and thoroughly cooked before consumption.
On its part, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in a reaction through its spokesperson, called on Nigerians to disregard fake news and to rely solely on official information from the Ministry, the NCDC and WHO for accurate updates on public health issues.
The Ministry assured Nigerians that it is working closely with WHO, UNICEF, and other international development partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and emergency response systems across the country.
Health experts and public health analysts who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja and Lagos commended the Federal Government for its transparency, prompt response and effective risk communication in managing the suspected case.
They recalled that Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak was globally celebrated as a model for other countries, largely due to the dedication and sacrifice of health workers, effective coordination and rapid deployment of resources.
They expressed strong confidence that with the experience gained from managing Ebola, Lassa fever, monkeypox and the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria’s health system is now better prepared to prevent, detect and respond to any emerging infectious disease threat.
Meanwhile, WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Nigeria in strengthening its health system, building resilient surveillance structures and enhancing capacity for emergency preparedness and response to infectious diseases.
The organization also appealed to other countries and international airlines to refrain from imposing unnecessary travel and trade restrictions on Nigeria, as such measures are not justified since the country does not currently pose any Ebola-related threat to the international community.
As of the time of filing this report, normal social and economic activities continue across all parts of the country, with health authorities urging citizens to go about their legitimate businesses while remaining vigilant and promptly reporting any suspected case of fever with bleeding to the nearest health facility.
The confirmation by WHO that Nigeria has no case of Ebola after the evacuation of the suspected patient to Switzerland has therefore brought great relief to millions of Nigerians who had been worried about the possibility of another outbreak of the deadly virus.
