Yobe Activates Emergency Response, Intensifies Surveillance In 17 LGAs

The Yobe State Government has activated its public well being emergency response system and intensified surveillance throughout the 17 native authorities areas following the affirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.

The authorities, nevertheless, stated no case of the illness had been recorded within the state, assuring residents that measures had been put in place to forestall a attainable outbreak.

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

Sabo stated the preparedness measures adopted the affirmation of an imported Ebola case within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on October 20, 2026.

She stated the case concerned a diplomat who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and examined optimistic for the Bundibugyo pressure of the virus.

According to her, the affected person was receiving therapy in isolation, whereas the NCDC had activated its nationwide Incident Management System to coordinate the response.

Sabo disclosed that 53 shut contacts, together with well being employees, sufferers, caregivers and journey contacts, had been recognized and had been being monitored as of October 24.

She added that 46 uncovered individuals had been positioned on a 21-day no-fly checklist as a precautionary measure.

The everlasting secretary stated Governor Mai Mala Buni had directed the activation of the state’s Public Health Emergency Incident Management System and the event of a complete Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan in keeping with nationwide tips.

She defined that the State Emergency Operations Centre had been positioned on excessive alert, with coordination conferences involving related well being authorities and growth companions, together with the NCDC, World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.

As a part of the intensified surveillance, illness surveillance officers throughout the 17 native authorities areas had been directed to analyze and confirm reviews of suspected instances, whereas the contact-tracing system had been strengthened to watch recognized contacts for 21 days.

Sabo stated designated isolation and therapy amenities throughout the state’s three senatorial zones had been outfitted with medicines and private protecting gear.

She added that frontline well being employees had obtained extra coaching in an infection prevention and management, secure pattern assortment and scientific administration to strengthen the state’s capability to reply to suspected infections.

According to her, the state was implementing preparedness measures primarily based on the six technical pillars really helpful by the NCDC to enhance its potential to detect, include and reply to any suspected case.

The everlasting secretary urged residents to watch common handwashing with cleaning soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, keep away from direct contact with the blood and different bodily fluids of sick individuals, and chorus from burial practices involving direct contact with deceased individuals.

She additionally cautioned in opposition to spreading unverified data, urging residents to depend on official updates from the state Ministry of Health and the NCDC.

Sabo confused that being recognized as a contact didn’t imply that a person had contracted Ebola, warning residents in opposition to stigmatising folks being monitored by well being authorities.

She stated the state authorities remained dedicated to defending residents by 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 stated.