By Miriam Humbe
The Federal Ministry of Environment has stressed the need for enhanced environmental sanitation and personal hygiene as a means to stem the spread of the deadly ebola virus which unfortunately found its way into the country.
The Environment Ministry issued
a six-point public environmental health advisory, telling Nigerians to:
*Keep Your Environment Spotlessly Clean
* Practice Good Hand Hygiene Always
*Ensure Food And Water Safety
*Disinfect Your Surroundings
*Handle Waste Safely
*Report Immediately
The Federal Ministry of Environment therefore advised Nigerians not to hide any suspected cases but to report any person with sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding to the nearest health facility or call the National Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) toll-free number, 6232.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had on Tuesday, the Federal Government had confirmed one imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Since then, various government agencies have been activating public health response measures to prevent further spread.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this to the nation at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection on October 20.
Pate said the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
Pate said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far, while public health teams are identifying and monitoring people who might have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
“Surveillance has also been intensified, and the private hospital where the patient was treated is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures,” he said.
The Minister urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases.
He described the case as a “contained case”, and assured Nigerians that government was working with relevant authorities and partners to prevent further transmission.
The Minister said the woman was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
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