Fresh concerns over a possible Ebola outbreak have sparked conversations across Nigeria. However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has urged citizens to remain calm and avoid panic.
The agency said Nigeria already has stronger systems in place to detect and contain the virus if needed. Moreover, health officials stressed that lessons learned from previous outbreaks have greatly improved the country’s emergency response capacity.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, the Head of Health Emergency Preparedness at the NCDC, Dr. Biodun Ogunniyi, assured Nigerians that the situation was under control despite growing worries linked to cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to him, Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness remains active and effective. He explained that the country has continued to strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory testing, and emergency coordination over the years.
“There is no need to panic because fear k+lls more than de@th itself,” Ogunniyi said during the interview.
The health expert reminded Nigerians about the country’s rapid response during the deadly 2014 Ebola outbreak. Furthermore, he noted that Nigeria’s success at the time earned global recognition.
“In less than 70 days, the country was able to wipe this virus out,” he added.
The Ebola preparedness, has again become important following reports of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Congo. Reports revealed that over 500 cases and more than 100 deaths have already been recorded there.
Meanwhile, Ogunniyi explained that the Bundibugyo Ebola strain was not entirely new to Nigerian health authorities. Therefore, systems created after earlier outbreaks can still be activated immediately.
“The Bundibugyo Ebola Virus… is not new to us, so we have the system in place… to quickly coordinate ourselves through our Public Health Emergency Operation Centre,” he stated.
He further disclosed that several laboratories across Nigeria can now quickly detect dangerous infectious diseases. In addition, national reference laboratories in Abuja and Lagos remain fully operational for emergency testing.
According to the NCDC official, Nigeria’s public health sector is more prepared today than it was over a decade ago.
He said emergency teams, testing centres, and disease monitoring systems have all been upgraded.
The issue has continued to attract attention online as many Nigerians remember the fear and tension that surrounded the 2014 Ebola outbreak. However, health authorities insist there is currently no confirmed Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, public health experts have advised residents to maintain proper hygiene and report unusual symptoms quickly. They also urged citizens to avoid spreading false information online, especia
