An epidemiologist, Dr. Imam Wada Bello, has called on state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen their preparedness to detect, isolate and respond to suspected Ebola cases, warning that gaps in local testing capacity could delay confirmation and response.
Bello made the call on Wednesday while speaking on Inside Naija, a flagship morning programme on CHRICED Radio and TV, where he discussed Nigeria’s capacity to respond to a potential Ebola outbreak.
The former Public Health Director at the Kano State Ministry of Health expressed concern that some states may lack the appropriate laboratory facilities to confirm suspected cases, potentially requiring samples to be transported to specialized laboratories elsewhere for testing.
“Some states do not have the facilities needed to confirm Ebola cases. If a suspected case occurs in another state, a sample has to be taken to Lagos to confirm whether the result is negative or positive,” he said.
However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged all states and the FCT to strengthen their capacity to detect, isolate and respond to suspected Ebola cases, highlighting the importance of coordinated nationwide preparedness.
The epidemiologist also called for stronger disease surveillance, functional emergency response committees in every state and sustained screening at international entry points, particularly airports, to identify possible imported cases.
He urged Nigerians not to panic but to understand how Ebola spreads and recognise possible symptoms, including fever, weakness and vomiting. Bleeding may occur in severe cases.
According to him, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease. It is not airborne and does not spread through casual contact.
“The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, during which symptoms may develop. Transmission risk is associated with contact with infected individuals, particularly when they are symptomatic.” He added.
Bello commended the Federal Government for maintaining a high level of alert and stressed that effective Ebola control requires more than national-level vigilance: every state must be equipped and ready to identify suspected cases promptly and initiate an effective response, including provisions of required kits for health workers.