The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has confirmed that the suspected Ebola case reported in Abuja has tested negative, urging residents to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the patient, identified only as Patient X for confidentiality, was promptly reported after presenting with fever and unexplained bleeding following a trip to Rwanda.
FCT Epidemiologist, Dr. Lukman Lawal, explained that the suspected case triggered the immediate activation of the Emergency Operations System in line with World Health Organization (WHO), national, and FCT protocols. Contact tracing, sample collection, and laboratory testing were conducted swiftly, with results from the National Reference Laboratory confirming negative within six hours.
Dr. Fasawe commended the patient for seeking medical attention, Nisa Premier Hospital for promptly raising the alert, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its collaboration with the FCT health authorities.
“This incident shows that our surveillance system is active and alert. Every fever is not malaria. Every fever is not Ebola. What matters is early reporting and strict adherence to protocol,” she said.
She stressed that while Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, vigilance remains high due to outbreaks in neighboring countries. “The FCT Administration has already conducted two Ebola-related investigations this year, both of which returned negative,” she added.
The Health Secretary also warned against misinformation and stigmatization, urging the public to verify health information through official channels. She reminded Nigerians to use the NCDC toll-free line 6232 and other reporting platforms for suspected cases.
“The vigilance of one clinician can save a nation,” she said.
The suspected patient is said to be responding well to treatment for other conditions and is expected to be discharged soon.
