The governments of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states have activated preventive measures and emergency response systems to guard against any possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the South-East region.
The move follows advisories from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which identified some Nigerian states as having a higher risk of disease importation due to busy airports, trade routes and border activities.
Although Anambra was not listed among the high-risk states, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said the state had intensified surveillance across health facilities, border communities and other strategic locations because of its proximity to Enugu, which was identified as a high-risk state.
According to him, health workers have been placed on alert, emergency response teams mobilized, and public awareness campaigns planned to educate residents on preventive measures.
Obidike urged residents to maintain proper hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with sick persons and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.
In Enugu State, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, announced the activation of the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Ebola preparedness.
He said the centre, comprising key health stakeholders and partners, had developed an incident management structure and identified critical response areas, including surveillance, point-of-entry screening, risk communication and training of frontline health workers.
Ugwu disclosed that plans were underway to establish a functional isolation facility at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane.
He reassured residents that there was currently no Ebola case in Nigeria but stressed the need for heightened vigilance, improved hygiene practices and timely medical attention for suspected illnesses.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, said there was no reported case of Ebola in the state, adding that authorities were fully prepared to respond to any potential outbreak.
He urged residents to observe good hygiene practices, avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, and report suspected cases promptly.
Ekuma also noted that awareness campaigns had been intensified across the state to educate the public on prevention and early detection.
Similarly, the Chief Medical Advisory Committee of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr. Uchenna Nelson, said the institution remained on high alert and adequately prepared to manage any suspected case.
Health officials across the three states emphasized that while no Ebola case has been reported in the region, proactive measures are essential to prevent any possible outbreak.
They called on residents to remain calm, maintain high standards of personal and environmental hygiene, and cooperate with health authorities in reporting suspected symptoms.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Early detection and prompt medical intervention remain critical in containing its spread.