Ebola: Yobe Activates Emergency Response, Intensifies Surveillance In 17 LGAs

The Yobe State Government has activated its public health emergency response system and intensified surveillance across the 17 local government areas following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.

The government, however, said no case of the disease had been recorded in the state, assuring residents that measures had been put in place to prevent a possible outbreak.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Hajiya Hadiza Sabo, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Damaturu.

Sabo said the preparedness measures followed the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on October 20, 2026.

She said the case involved a diplomat who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

According to her, the patient was receiving treatment in isolation, while the NCDC had activated its national Incident Management System to coordinate the response.

Sabo disclosed that 53 close contacts, including health workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts, had been identified and were being monitored as of October 24.

She added that 46 exposed persons had been placed on a 21-day no-fly list as a precautionary measure.

The permanent secretary said Governor Mai Mala Buni had directed the activation of the state’s Public Health Emergency Incident Management System and the development of a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan in line with national guidelines.

She explained that the State Emergency Operations Centre had been placed on high alert, with coordination meetings involving relevant health authorities and development partners, including the NCDC, World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.

As part of the intensified surveillance, disease surveillance officers across the 17 local government areas had been directed to investigate and verify reports of suspected cases, while the contact-tracing system had been strengthened to monitor identified contacts for 21 days.

Sabo said designated isolation and treatment facilities across the state’s three senatorial zones had been equipped with medicines and personal protective equipment.

She added that frontline health workers had received additional training in infection prevention and control, safe sample collection and clinical management to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to suspected infections.

According to her, the state was implementing preparedness measures based on the six technical pillars recommended by the NCDC to improve its ability to detect, contain and respond to any suspected case.

The permanent secretary urged residents to observe regular handwashing with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, avoid direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of sick persons, and refrain from burial practices involving direct contact with deceased persons.

She also cautioned against spreading unverified information, urging residents to rely on official updates from the state Ministry of Health and the NCDC.

Sabo stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean that an individual had contracted Ebola, warning residents against stigmatising people being monitored by health authorities.

She said the state government remained committed to protecting residents through surveillance, preparedness and a coordinated emergency response.

“Yobe State has no case of Ebola, but our Incident Management System is fully active and operational to protect the people of the state,” she said.