Lagos Assures Residents as Ebola Outbreak Spreads in Central Africa
State government says no Ebola case recorded in Lagos, activates surveillance and emergency response systems
The Lagos State Government has reassured residents that no Ebola case has been detected in the state despite the ongoing outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa. Health authorities say surveillance, emergency response systems and biosecurity measures have been fully activated to prevent any possible spread.
The Lagos State Government has assured residents that there is currently no confirmed or suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease in the state, despite the growing outbreak reported in parts of Central and East Africa.
The reassurance was given by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement issued on behalf of the Ministry of Health, following concerns over the disease outbreak affecting countries including Congo and Uganda.
According to the statement, the outbreak has reportedly led to about 177 deaths from nearly 700 suspected cases in the affected region, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Abayomi said the Lagos State Government, under the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had intensified monitoring and preparedness measures to guard against any possible threat.
He noted that Lagos’ biosecurity infrastructure remains fully operational and capable of responding swiftly to biological emergencies.
“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,” the commissioner stated.
He explained that the state’s disease preparedness structure, first tested during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and later strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, remains active.
According to him, the Lagos State Incident Command System, headed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, alongside the Emergency Operations Centre, continues to operate around the clock for surveillance and public health intelligence gathering.
Abayomi added that the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba remains on high alert with dedicated isolation and intensive care facilities prepared for emergency response.
He also disclosed that the Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility had intensified surveillance operations for rapid diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases.
The commissioner further revealed that Lagos was working closely with Port Health Services, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research to strengthen screening procedures at airports and other entry points.
According to the ministry, passengers arriving from East and Central African countries are receiving increased public health screening as part of preventive measures.
The government also said community health workers, civil society groups and local development associations had been integrated into the state’s disease surveillance network to support early detection and reporting.
Emergency medical supplies, including protective equipment and sanitising materials, have also been strategically positioned across the state, while emergency ambulance services remain on standby.
Residents returning from affected countries or those who may have had contact with travellers from the region were advised to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop and to report concerns through designated emergency lines.
