The Lagos State Government has intensified disease surveillance and preparedness measures following the confirmation of Nigeria’s first case of the Bundibugyo virus in the Federal Capital Territory, assuring residents that the state is ready to prevent, detect, and respond to potential public health threats.

The government urged residents and visitors to remain calm, saying the Ministry of Health, through the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, was strengthening disease surveillance, risk communication, and community engagement.

It also said it was collaborating with relevant agencies at points of entry, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), to improve the early detection of suspected cases and ensure a prompt response.

The government said no suspected Ebola case had been recorded in Lagos at the time of its announcement.

As part of its preparedness efforts, the state said it had conducted a strategic engagement and assessment at the MMIA involving airport management, Port Health Services, and other aviation and public health stakeholders.

According to the government, the engagement focused on passenger screening, information sharing, infection prevention and control, and the coordination of emergency response measures.

It added that the Ministry of Health was intensifying public enlightenment through educational materials explaining Ebola, its symptoms, modes of transmission, and prevention.

“Ebola Virus Disease is a severe illness that can be fatal. It spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, contaminated materials, or the bodies of people who have died from the disease,” the government stated.

“Infection may also occur through contact with infected animals. Residents are advised to avoid contact with potentially infectious materials and to rely on verified information rather than rumours or speculation.

“Symptoms may develop between two and 21 days after exposure and include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may occur in some cases.

“As early symptoms can resemble malaria and other common illnesses, residents who become unwell, particularly after possible exposure or travel from an area with active transmission, should seek prompt medical assessment,” it added.

The government also advised residents with fever to undergo a malaria rapid diagnostic test before taking antimalarial medicines, in line with Lagos State’s fever-management policy.

“Where the test is negative, a healthcare professional should assess other possible causes and determine appropriate treatment,” it said.

The government urged residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick people, refrain from handling potentially contaminated materials, and avoid contact with sick or dead wild animals.

It also called on travellers arriving in Nigeria, particularly those from areas reporting Ebola transmission, to cooperate with Port Health Services and other authorised officials, provide accurate travel and health information when requested, and comply with applicable public health guidance.

“Anyone who develops symptoms during travel or after arrival should promptly notify the appropriate health personnel and seek guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the government added.

It said airlines and airport operators were expected to maintain established public health protocols, while travellers were advised to consult official advisories from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for current guidance.

The state government urged anyone who suspected they had been exposed to Ebola, particularly through contact with a suspected or confirmed case, to contact public health authorities promptly for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.

“Suspected cases or relevant exposure concerns in Lagos may be reported through the State’s emergency numbers, 112 or 767, or to the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, on 0802 316 9485,” it added.

The government said it would continue to monitor developments, strengthen surveillance and response readiness, coordinate with relevant stakeholders, and provide verified updates as necessary.

It encouraged residents to remain calm, practise recommended preventive measures, and follow official public health announcements, stressing that early detection and prompt reporting save lives.