FCTA Steps Up Vigilance as Abuja Records Suspected Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Cases
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has intensified its disease surveillance in Abuja, urging residents to promptly report suspected Ebola cases as health officials respond to growing public concern.
Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, told journalists on Friday that the FCT health system, in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), remains fully alert and ready to act against any outbreak.
Public anxiety rose earlier in the week after reports of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever in the capital.
However, laboratory results later ruled out both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus in two recent cases, according to the NCDC.
The centre confirmed that further tests are ongoing for other hemorrhagic illnesses such as Lassa fever and dengue fever.
“This should reassure the public that our surveillance system is active and effective. If we were not paying attention, this case would have slipped through. Our response was immediate, and the protocols worked as expected,” Dr. Fasawe said.
She explained that the Emergency Operating Centre had been activated without delay and that existing protocols guided every step of the response to prevent unnecessary panic.
The Mandate Secretary also commended the patient who sought medical help early and Nisa Premier Hospital for promptly raising an alert, describing such actions as vital in containing disease spread.
“I am also using this opportunity to talk to all private establishments. We know the signs and symptoms of Ebola. I want to say here that every fever is not malaria. We do not have Ebola in Nigeria as we speak.
“The case we are talking about, samples were taken and within six hours the results were out, and it is nearly easy. However, our protocol doesn’t end there,” she added.
Dr. Fasawe cautioned against spreading unverified information, noting that panic could worsen the situation.
She urged both public and private health facilities to immediately report suspicious cases and reminded residents that the FCT Emergency Operations Centre can be reached 24 hours a day via toll-free line 6232.
“Our borders have been strengthened to identify cases. I am advising the general public, please report to the nearest general hospital with any symptoms at all,” she said.
Supporting her remarks, FCT Epidemiologist Dr. Lukman Lawal confirmed that authorities activated emergency protocols as soon as the suspected case was reported.
He said samples were collected, contact tracing began immediately, and relevant agencies were notified in line with national guidelines.
Lawal stressed that the administration remains committed to protecting the health and safety of everyone in the territory.
