FCTA assures residents on Ebola with swift response

FCTA assures residents on Ebola with swift surveillance, confirming Abuja cases tested negative while urging vigilance and responsible reporting

Addressing the press on Friday, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, stressed that the Federal Capital Territory’s surveillance system remains fully alert.

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She said the FCTA, working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, is prepared to respond rapidly to any suspected outbreak.

“This should reassure the public that our surveillance system is active and effective. If we were not paying attention, this case would have slipped through.

Our response was immediate, and the protocols worked as expected,” Dr Fasawe explained.

Public concern had grown after reports of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in Abuja, sparking fears of Ebola.

However, further laboratory analysis is ongoing to test for other illnesses such as Lassa fever and dengue fever.

Dr Fasawe praised both the patient and Nisa Premier Hospital for acting swiftly, noting that early reporting and medical alerts are critical in preventing disease spread.

She urged residents and private healthcare providers to report suspicious symptoms without delay.

“I want to say here that every fever is not malaria. We do not have Ebola in Nigeria as we speak,” she clarified, adding that surveillance teams had even tracked down a passenger flight manifest as part of precautionary contact tracing.

Residents were also advised to avoid spreading unverified information, with Dr Fasawe warning that panic could cause unnecessary harm.

She reminded the public that the FCTA’s Emergency Operations Centre is active around the clock, with toll-free number 6232 available for immediate reporting.

FCT Epidemiologist Dr Lukman Lawal confirmed that national and local protocols were triggered swiftly once the suspected case was flagged, with samples collected, contacts traced, and notifications sent to the relevant authorities.

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Reassuring residents, he added: “The FCTA is committed to ensuring the safety and health of everyone in the territory.”

Quadri Olaitan