Following the Federal Government’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigerians are urged to stay informed, remain vigilant and follow official public health advice.
WHAT IS EBOLA?
Ebola is a severe infectious disease that can be fatal. Early detection and prompt medical care are important.
🕒 INCUBATION PERIOD: 2–21 DAYS
Symptoms may develop between 2 and 21 days after exposure.
⚠️ EARLY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
* Sudden fever
* Severe headache
* Muscle and joint pain
* Extreme weakness and fatigue
* Sore throat
* Loss of appetite
⚠️ OTHER SYMPTOMS
* Vomiting and diarrhoea
* Severe stomach pain
* Skin rash
* Red eyes
* Difficulty swallowing or breathing
* Confusion or loss of consciousness in severe cases
* Unexplained bleeding, including blood in vomit or stool, or bleeding from the nose and gums
IMPORTANT: Not everyone with Ebola develops bleeding. Early symptoms can resemble malaria, typhoid and other illnesses. Symptoms alone cannot confirm Ebola.
🦠 HOW DOES EBOLA SPREAD?
1. Direct contact: Contact with the blood or other body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola or has died from it.
2. Contaminated objects: Contact with needles, bedding, clothing or other items contaminated with infected body fluids.
3. Unsafe burial practices: Touching the body of someone who died from Ebola.
4. Infected animals: Contact with infected wildlife, including bats and non-human primates, or their body fluids.
5. Sexual transmission: Ebola virus may persist in the semen of some male survivors after recovery.
HOW DOES EBOLA NOT SPREAD?
Ebola is not transmitted through the air in the same way as flu or COVID-19. It does not ordinarily spread through casual contact, simply passing an infected person or sharing a room without exposure to infectious body fluids. Mosquitoes are not known to transmit Ebola.
🛡️ HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
✅ Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water.
✅ Avoid contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
✅ Do not touch contaminated clothing, bedding, needles or other materials with bare hands.
✅ Avoid handling sick or dead wild animals.
✅ Do not touch bodies during burial preparations when Ebola is suspected. Leave this to trained burial teams.
✅ Follow instructions from public health authorities.
🚨 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT EBOLA?
* Do not touch the suspected patient or their body fluids.
* Avoid close contact with others while awaiting medical guidance.
* Call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) toll-free line: 6232.
* Explain the symptoms, travel history and any possible contact with an infected person.
* Call before going to a hospital so appropriate precautions can be arranged.
If you develop symptoms after possible exposure, seek urgent medical guidance. Do not wait for bleeding to occur.
📢 SHARE FACTS, NOT FEAR.
Public awareness, early reporting, proper hygiene and cooperation with health authorities are essential to preventing the spread of Ebola.
Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Follow official health advisories.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The health information above is based on WHO guidance and Nigeria’s current public health announcement.
