The Plateau State Government has activated emergency public health measures, reopening Ebola isolation centres, strengthening disease surveillance and intensifying monitoring at strategic entry points as authorities move to prevent the deadly viral disease from spreading into the state.
The government also directed its emergency preparedness team to review health security arrangements at the airport and place local government areas bordering neighbouring states on alert, in a coordinated effort to strengthen early detection and response capabilities.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed the measures during a press briefing in Jos, explaining that the government was taking proactive steps to safeguard residents against potential infection.
The development comes amid heightened national concern following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on October 20.
Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Monday that Nigeria currently had no active Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s index patient to Switzerland, health authorities have emphasised the need for continued surveillance and contact tracing.
According to the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Janabi, Nigerian authorities will continue monitoring 52 identified contacts, while Swiss health officials will assume responsibility for the patient and her husband, who accompanied her during the evacuation.
Ba’amlong said the reactivation of isolation facilities formed part of a broader strategy to ensure that the state could promptly identify, isolate and manage suspected Ebola cases if the need arose.
He explained that surveillance activities had been strengthened, while public awareness campaigns were being intensified to educate residents about preventive measures and the importance of reporting suspected infections.
The commissioner disclosed that emergency preparedness officials had also been instructed to assess existing health safety arrangements at the airport and strengthen communication with local government authorities in areas adjoining neighbouring states.
The approach is intended to improve coordination among health institutions and facilitate rapid intervention should a suspected case be identified.
Ba’amlong emphasised that early detection, responsible public behaviour and cooperation with health authorities remained essential to preventing the spread of the disease.
“Residents should maintain proper hygiene and avoid contact with potentially infected persons,” he said.
“Maintain good hygiene, wash your hands regularly and avoid direct contact with the blood and body fluids of suspected infected persons,” the commissioner advised.
He further urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly notify relevant health authorities whenever they encounter a suspected case.
Beyond the immediate Ebola preparedness measures, the commissioner announced that the Plateau State Government had approved a series of resolutions aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system and improving its capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
He said the decisions emerged from the 12th Plateau State Council on Health meeting held last week, where stakeholders considered challenges affecting healthcare delivery, disease prevention and emergency response.
According to Ba’amlong, 10 resolutions were adopted at the meeting, including proposals to establish a state health trust fund, strengthen disease surveillance and address persistent shortages of healthcare professionals.
The council also endorsed the establishment of a dedicated emergency fund to support responses to outbreaks and other public health threats.
The proposed funding arrangements are expected to provide a more structured financial framework for addressing urgent health challenges, although the commissioner did not disclose the amounts to be committed or a timetable for implementation.
“These measures are aimed at strengthening the state’s preparedness to respond to disease outbreaks and improving the delivery of healthcare services to residents,” Ba’amlong explained.
The decisions underscore the government’s recognition that effective disease control depends not only on emergency interventions but also on sustained investment in health infrastructure, personnel and surveillance systems.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has continued its public health response despite the evacuation of Nigeria’s only confirmed Ebola patient.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed on Monday that the patient, whose condition had improved significantly, was flown to Switzerland alongside her husband.
Pate said the patient was stable, conscious and communicating before the evacuation but cautioned that clinical improvement did not necessarily mean she was no longer infectious.
He explained that strict infection prevention and control protocols were observed during the medical transfer.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had earlier identified 53 contacts associated with the imported case, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s husband.
The agency also confirmed that a suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 tested negative for the disease.
The WHO has maintained that continued contact tracing and surveillance remain necessary to prevent further transmission.
Ebola virus disease is a serious infectious illness that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, or through contaminated materials.
Public health authorities recommend regular handwashing, avoiding direct contact with suspected infected persons and seeking immediate medical attention when symptoms develop, particularly after possible exposure.
Symptoms may include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, although laboratory testing is required to confirm infection.
Health officials also warn against handling the bodies of people suspected to have died from Ebola without appropriate protective measures and trained personnel.
In Plateau State, Ba’amlong urged residents to cooperate with public health officials, follow established preventive guidelines and report suspected cases promptly.
The state government has not announced any confirmed Ebola infection within Plateau, and the measures outlined by the commissioner remain precautionary.
With isolation facilities reactivated, surveillance intensified and emergency health financing under consideration, Plateau authorities are seeking to reinforce the state’s readiness against a possible outbreak. The effectiveness of those preparations will depend on sustained funding, rapid detection, coordination among health institutions and the willingness of residents to report suspected infections without delay.
