Lagos Reassures Residents Amid Ebola Outbreak In Central Africa

Lagos says no Ebola case recorded, activates surveillance and emergency response systems across the state.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health has reassured residents that there is no cause for alarm over the evolving Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa, stating that the state’s biosecurity infrastructure remains fully activated and prepared to respond to any biological threat.

Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed this in a statement issued on behalf of the ministry, noting that the state was closely monitoring developments surrounding the outbreak following directives from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to the statement, the outbreak has so far recorded about 177 deaths from nearly 700 suspected cases and remains confined to Congo and Uganda.

The statement added that the World Health Organization had declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due largely to the difficult terrain in the affected countries, which could hamper response efforts.

Abayomi, however, assured residents that no suspected Ebola case had been identified in Lagos State.

“The Lagos Biosecurity Bio-shield was built to protect and remains ready to respond to biological shocks. Preparedness for us is not a temporary reaction; it is a permanent culture embedded within our health system,” he said.

He noted that the state’s preparedness framework was first rigorously tested during the Ebola outbreak and further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, the state’s emergency architecture includes the Lagos State Incident Command System led directly by Governor Sanwo-Olu, as well as the Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre, which remains operational round the clock for disease surveillance and public health intelligence gathering.

Abayomi added that the Lagos Mainland Hospital, also known as the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, remained on constant alert with dedicated isolation and intensive care facilities for infectious disease management.

He also said the Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility within the hospital had intensified surveillance operations for real-time diagnosis and monitoring of high-risk pathogens.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state government was collaborating with Port Health Authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and other entry points in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research.

“All flights arriving from East and Central Africa are receiving heightened public health attention and scrutiny as part of precautionary measures to strengthen early detection and risk mitigation,” the statement noted.

The ministry said Community Health Workers, Community Development Associations and Civil Society Organisations had also been integrated into the state’s disease surveillance network to improve early warning systems and information flow.

It added that emergency stockpiles, including Personal Protective Equipment, gloves and sanitisers, had been strategically positioned across key locations, while ambulance services remained on standby for rapid response.

“Our focus remains firmly on prevention, early detection, prompt reporting and swift multi-sectoral response. Lagos remains vigilant, organised and safe,” Abayomi said.

The government urged residents, especially those returning from affected areas in Congo or Uganda or those who had close contact with travellers from the countries, to seek immediate medical guidance if necessary.

Residents were advised to contact emergency numbers 767 or 112, or the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health at the Lagos State Ministry of Health through 08023169485 for assistance.