The Academy calls for activation of isolation centres across states, enhanced border screening and strict infection control measures.
The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria has called for the immediate nationwide activation of high-alert measures following the confirmation of an Ebola disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warning that urgent action is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease.
In a public health statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Academy said the Federal Government and relevant health authorities must urgently strengthen surveillance, screening and infection prevention measures across the country.
The Academy said the confirmed case involved a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda, citing a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
It urged the immediate implementation of nationwide high-alert protocols, drawing on measures that helped Nigeria contain Ebola in 2014 and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recommendations include enhanced screening at airports, seaports and land borders, particularly for travellers arriving from countries affected by the disease.
The Academy also called for the activation of isolation and treatment centres across states, strict infection prevention and control measures in public and private health facilities, and the provision of adequate personal protective equipment for health workers.
It stressed the need for rigorous contact tracing, monitoring and follow-up, alongside sustained and accurate public communication through official channels.
Health workers, it said, must maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases and immediately report them to public health authorities.
The Academy commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other partners for their response to the confirmed case.
It specifically praised the prompt commencement of contact tracing, the isolation of the patient and the intensified surveillance already under way.
However, the Academy’s call for immediate nationwide action underscores the need to sustain and expand these measures before further transmission occurs.
On public safety, the Academy urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, explaining that Ebola is not an airborne disease. It spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, or through contact with materials contaminated by such fluids.
It added that an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
As a precaution, the Academy advised Nigerians to avoid handshakes, hugging and other unnecessary physical contact during the period, recommending non-contact greetings instead.
It also urged the public to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick persons, and refrain from handling the bodies of people suspected to have died from Ebola.
Nigerians were advised to watch for symptoms including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure to the disease.
The Academy stressed that anyone who suspects exposure or develops symptoms should contact public health authorities before visiting a health facility. It also urged the public to cooperate fully with contact-tracing teams and avoid spreading rumours or stigmatising suspected cases.
For information or to report a suspected case, the public was directed to call the NCDC’s toll-free number, 6232, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The statement was signed by the Academy’s President, Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie; Foundation President, Prof. Oladapo A. Ashiru; and Rapid Response Committee member, Prof. Boaz Adegboro.
The Academy reaffirmed its readiness to support the Federal Government and other stakeholders with expert advice as the public health response continues.
