NEMA's Zubaida Umar Calls for Vigilance Against Ebola

On Wednesday, Mrs Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), addressed journalists in Abuja regarding the Ebola situation in Nigeria. She reassured the public that relevant health authorities are actively managing the outbreak.

Umar warned against touching or preparing the bodies of individuals suspected to have died from Ebola, stating that only trained health officials should conduct such burials. She explained that the disease spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals and contaminated materials.

To reduce infection risk, she advised Nigerians to observe precautionary measures, including frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with suspected cases and wild animals. Umar confirmed that a patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care, with ongoing contact tracing and surveillance.

She urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and to adhere to official health advice, recalling Nigeria's successful containment of Ebola in 2014 through early detection and coordinated action.