The Anambra State Government has announced plans to strengthen Ebola surveillance across the state following the confirmation of a case of the disease in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The state government said surveillance officers would be deployed to the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, motor parks, banks and other public gathering points to monitor travellers and identify potential health risks.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Ben Obidike, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in his office in Awka.
He explained that the surveillance teams would pay particular attention to passengers arriving in Anambra from Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Africa as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease into the state.
According to the commissioner, the state has intensified its preparedness measures in response to the laboratory-confirmed Ebola case involving a female traveller who reportedly arrived in Abuja from Uganda, East Africa.
Obidike appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring them that the government was taking proactive steps to protect public health.
He said Anambra had recorded no confirmed case of Ebola as of the time of the report.
The commissioner explained that the state’s preparedness activities began before the latest development, with the State Epidemiology Unit already monitoring individuals identified through the national surveillance system for relevant travel or exposure histories.
He clarified that being identified as a person of interest does not mean that an individual has contracted Ebola, warning against stigmatisation and the circulation of unverified information about those under observation.
According to him, designated surveillance officers, under the supervision of the State Epidemiologist, have been assigned to monitor the individuals for the prescribed 21-day period.
The monitoring process includes regular communication, symptom checks, documentation and the immediate escalation of any health concerns requiring further assessment.
Providing an update on the exercise, Obidike disclosed that as of October 20, 2026, the state had followed up on 40 persons of interest.
He said 33 of them had completed the monitoring period and been cleared, while the remaining seven were still under active monitoring and were all stable at the time of reporting.
The commissioner added that the Ministry of Health had strengthened its surveillance capacity through training organised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), including a two-day online programme on monitoring persons of interest.
He said the state had also developed an Ebola preparedness and operational plan covering surveillance, rapid response, infection prevention and control, laboratory coordination, referral arrangements, public communication and logistics.
Obidike noted that the surveillance network across Anambra’s 21 local government areas, together with monitoring activities at the international airport, motor parks, banks and other public spaces, remained central to the state’s response strategy.
He urged Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, healthcare facilities and community reporting structures to remain vigilant and promptly report unusual illnesses or unexplained deaths to the appropriate authorities.
The commissioner also advised healthcare workers to maintain standard infection prevention and control measures, obtain relevant travel and exposure histories from patients, and immediately notify public health authorities whenever Ebola is suspected.
He stressed that suspected cases should be managed with appropriate precautions, while referrals must be coordinated through designated public health channels.
Residents who develop fever or other concerning symptoms after travelling to affected areas or coming into contact with a suspected Ebola patient were advised to contact health authorities promptly and disclose their travel or exposure history.
Obidike further urged such individuals to call ahead before visiting a health facility to enable healthcare workers to make the necessary arrangements.
He encouraged residents to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of sick persons, and refrain from handling the bodies of people who die from unexplained illnesses.
The commissioner also cautioned against spreading rumours or disclosing the identities and personal health information of individuals undergoing monitoring.
He emphasised that early reporting, public cooperation and trust were essential to preventing the spread of the disease.
Obidike commended the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health partners for their contributions to public health efforts, assuring residents that the Ministry of Health would continue to provide updates as verified information became available.
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