By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
The Lagos State Government has placed health authorities on high alert following the worsening Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa, particularly in Congo and Uganda. State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, assured residents that officials are closely monitoring the situation and strengthening preventive measures across the state.
Abayomi disclosed that the government had activated heightened surveillance systems after reports showed hundreds of suspected Ebola cases and rising fatalities in the affected countries. He said the outbreak had become a major global health concern due to the risk of cross-border transmission and the challenges faced in containing the disease.
According to the commissioner, Lagos has reinforced its biosecurity framework to ensure rapid detection, response, and containment should any case be imported into the state. He added that the state’s Incident Command System under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains fully operational and prepared to mobilise emergency resources when necessary.
The Health Commissioner further explained that the Emergency Operations Centre and disease surveillance teams have continued to monitor developments closely, while key facilities such as the Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital and its Biosafety Level 3 laboratory are on standby for testing and treatment of suspected cases.
The Lagos government is also collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research to tighten monitoring at airports, seaports, and land borders.
While urging residents to remain calm, Abayomi stressed that no Ebola case has been recorded in Lagos. He advised anyone who recently travelled to Congo or Uganda, or had contact with travellers from the affected regions and is experiencing symptoms, to contact emergency health lines immediately.
Reports indicate that the outbreak in Central and East Africa has already claimed at least 177 lives from about 700 suspected cases.
