As fresh fears of an Ebola outbreak spread across parts of Africa, the Lagos State Government has moved quickly to calm nerves, assuring residents that there is currently no immediate Ebola threat in Lagos despite rising concerns online.
The government says it is not taking any chances.
Following reports of a deadly Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Central and East Africa, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly ordered health authorities and emergency agencies to tighten surveillance and boost preparedness across the state.
Speaking on the growing concerns, the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, revealed that Lagos is on high alert even though no suspected or confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in the state.
According to health officials, the outbreak — currently affecting countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — has allegedly claimed about 177 lives from nearly 700 suspected infections, raising global alarm.
The situation has become serious enough for the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, mainly due to the challenges health workers face in reaching affected communities.
But Lagos officials insist residents should not panic.
Health authorities disclosed that the state’s emergency disease surveillance system is fully active and operating around the clock. Behind the scenes, trained disease experts and epidemiologists are reportedly monitoring health developments closely to quickly identify and contain any possible threat.
The Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre is also said to be on full alert, gathering real-time health intelligence while emergency teams remain ready for rapid deployment if necessary.
In another major reassurance, officials confirmed that the infectious disease hospital in Yaba has remained on standby, fully equipped with isolation facilities, intensive care units, and specialists prepared to respond if any case emerges.
Meanwhile, airport and border monitoring has reportedly intensified, especially for travelers arriving from affected regions in East and Central Africa. Authorities say flights from those areas are now receiving increased health screening and scrutiny to strengthen early detection efforts.
Residents who recently travelled to affected countries or had close contact with returning travelers have been advised to stay alert and immediately seek medical guidance if they experience unusual symptoms.
Leave a Reply