Nigeria Activates Task Force After Confirming Ebola Case

In response to the rising Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organisation announced in May that there were 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the virus remains a public health emergency of international concern.

Following this, Nigeria established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and allocated N10 billion for emergency intervention. Recently, the Nigerian government confirmed one case of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory involving a woman who arrived from Uganda.

The woman is in isolation and receiving care at a private hospital. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, reported that 44 close contacts have been identified, including healthcare workers and caregivers.

Health authorities are urging public places to enforce health protocols, as Ebola is a deadly viral disease with symptoms similar to malaria.