The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, as it stepped up preparedness measures in response to the outbreak in parts of Africa.
The assurance was given on Thursday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats in Abuja.
Idris said the government had inaugurated the committee to strengthen public awareness, risk communication and emergency preparedness, stressing that Nigeria remained free of the disease.
“Let me reassure Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. However, recent developments elsewhere in Africa remind us that infectious diseases know no borders,” the minister said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing it as a proactive measure to strengthen coordination, preparedness and timely intervention in protecting public health.
The government’s reassurance comes amid renewed concerns over an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, is continuing to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Uganda has recorded imported cases.
The WHO said the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed about 600 lives, with the death toll rising by more than 100 within three days after surpassing the 500 mark earlier in the week.
The organisation described the outbreak as one of the most serious public health emergencies currently facing the Central African nation, prompting heightened surveillance and preparedness measures across the region.
