Nigerian Expert Advocates for Local Ebola Response Team

Dr Peter Adewuyi, a senior field epidemiologist, has called on the Federal Government to depend on Nigeria's trained epidemiologists to manage the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The government confirmed the case on Tuesday and initiated contact tracing, identifying 44 close contacts to prevent further transmission.

The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care. Adewuyi, who coordinated contact tracing during Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak, stated that Nigeria has sufficient expertise with about 500 epidemiologists available.

He noted that while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had begun response measures early, the detection of the case occurred later than the recommended period. He explained the 7-1-7 target for surveillance, which aims for detection within seven days, reporting within one day, and response within seven days.

Adewuyi asserted that external epidemiologists are unnecessary, as the African Field Epidemiology Network is already supporting the NCDC in strengthening field operations.