Do not panic over ebola – Minister of Health Ali Pate tells Nigerians

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has urged Nigerians to stay vigilant, keep away from panic and depend on verified data following the affirmation of an Ebola case within the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking on Wednesday after assembly with the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in Abuja, Pate warned in opposition to circulating misinformation and unsubstantiated rumours.

He stated the Federal Government was working with Uganda and implementing measures to include the imported case. “What is important is that we have found this one case. We are doing contact tracing, and we are putting containment measures to ensure that it doesn’t go into our population,” he stated. Pate urged residents to take the state of affairs severely whereas speaking responsibly.

“Nigerians should be reassured. We must be vigilant, but not panic, and people should respect public health information from trusted sources, and not spread misinformation and false rumours,” he stated. The minister stated Nigeria had the general public well being establishments and experience required to reply.

According to him, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had activated its incident administration system, with response groups working across the clock and a job drive coordinating containment efforts. “They are working 24/7, and the task force is also active. So, we have things in place that give us confidence that Nigeria can weather this public health crisis,” he stated.

Pate added that authorities would proceed monitoring the state of affairs and supply updates as verified data grew to become out there. The assembly adopted Tuesday’s announcement of a laboratory-confirmed Ebola case involving a girl who had not too long ago arrived in Nigeria on a world flight from Uganda.

Pate stated the affected person had acquired remedy for a number of days at a non-public hospital within the FCT earlier than the analysis was confirmed. Authorities recognized 44 shut contacts for tracing as a part of efforts to forestall additional transmission. The minister stated containing the case and stopping its unfold remained the fast priorities.