Ogun State has intensified its public health surveillance and contact-tracing efforts after identifying 111 travellers for monitoring following the reported Ebola case in Abuja, as authorities move to strengthen preparedness and reduce the risk of possible transmission.
The development has placed renewed attention on the role of state health agencies in tracking travellers, identifying potential exposure risks and ensuring that suspected cases are promptly referred for medical assessment.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the 111 individuals had been identified as persons of interest because they travelled from countries considered high-risk for Ebola. They completed the required surveillance period and were subsequently discharged from follow-up.
Coker emphasised that no Ebola case had been recorded in Ogun State as of October 21, 2026, urging residents not to confuse the monitoring of travellers with confirmation of an outbreak within the state.
She disclosed that the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was coordinating preparedness and response activities, including surveillance, early detection, reporting and the management of suspected infections.
The government has also strengthened the capacity of disease surveillance officers, port health personnel, clinicians, health educators and community informants through training designed to improve early identification and response to potential cases.
According to the commissioner, public sensitisation campaigns and infection prevention measures in healthcare facilities have also been intensified to ensure that suspected infections are promptly identified and reported.
Coker urged residents to observe basic hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with soap and running water, and to avoid contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
She explained that symptoms may include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may occur in some cases.
Symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure, but experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean a person has contracted Ebola. Anyone who suspects possible exposure should contact public health authorities promptly for guidance.
The commissioner also advised people who develop symptoms after possible exposure to avoid close contact with others and contact health officials before visiting a healthcare facility, allowing appropriate arrangements to be made for safe assessment and referral.
Healthcare workers in public and private facilities were urged to maintain a high level of vigilance, follow strict infection prevention and control procedures, promptly isolate suspected cases and immediately notify the appropriate surveillance officers.
The state government further cautioned against spreading unverified information or stigmatising individuals who may be contacted during surveillance activities. Residents were encouraged to cooperate with health officials and provide accurate information when requested.
The latest measures follow the Federal Government’s reported confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20, 2026. The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda, is receiving treatment in isolation, while national health authorities have identified 44 contacts for monitoring.
Ogun State said it would continue working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant partners to strengthen preparedness and protect residents.
Residents can report suspected cases through the NCDC toll-free line, 6232, or contact the Ogun State Epidemiologist on 08084250881.