EBOLA IN NIGERIA: MY ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC

EBOLA IN NIGERIA: MY ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC

Stay Calm, Stay Informed, Stay Safe: Prevention Is Better Than Cure

By B.O. Adegeye (MSc) Health Science and Integrative Medicine

Introduction

The reported discovery of Ebola virus disease in Abuja, Nigeria, is a serious public health concern that requires attention, awareness, and collective responsibility. However, this is not a time for panic, discrimination, or the spread of unverified information. It is a time for vigilance, prevention, and cooperation with public health authorities.

As an Health Educator, my advice to Nigerians is simple: Do not panic, but do not ignore the warning. Prevention, early recognition, and prompt medical attention can save lives.

Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can spread through contact with infected body fluids. Although it can be fatal, the risk of transmission can be reduced through appropriate infection-prevention measures, early identification of suspected cases, and effective public health responses.

Every Nigerian has a role to play in protecting themselves, their families, healthcare workers, and the wider community.

1. What Is Ebola Virus Disease?

Ebola virus disease is a severe illness caused by viruses belonging to the Ebola group. It can cause serious complications and may result in death.

The early symptoms can resemble those of common illnesses, including malaria, which is prevalent in Nigeria. This similarity makes it important for people to recognise possible warning signs and seek appropriate medical advice.

Symptoms may include:

Fever.

Severe headache.

Muscle pain.

Unusual tiredness and weakness.

Sore throat.

Vomiting and diarrhoea.

Abdominal pain.

Unexplained bleeding in some cases.

These symptoms do not automatically mean that someone has Ebola. Other illnesses can produce similar symptoms, and diagnosis requires appropriate medical assessment and laboratory testing.

However, when symptoms occur following possible exposure to an infected person or another recognised risk, the individual should contact public health authorities promptly.

The public must understand that early reporting is an act of responsibility, not a reason for shame.

2. How Is Ebola Transmitted?

Understanding how Ebola spreads is essential to preventing infection.

Ebola is transmitted primarily through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of a person who is infected and has developed symptoms. Transmission can also occur through contaminated objects, materials, and surfaces.

Activities that may expose people to infection include:

Touching the blood, vomit, diarrhoea, or other body fluids of an infected person without appropriate protection.

Caring for an infected person without following infection-prevention precautions.

Handling contaminated clothing, bedding, or medical equipment.

Direct contact with the body of someone who has died from Ebola during unsafe burial practices.

Healthcare workers and family caregivers must therefore take particular precautions when providing care.

It is also important to correct a common misconception: Ebola does not spread simply because someone walks past an infected person. Ordinary casual contact without exposure to infectious body fluids does not ordinarily transmit the disease.

People should not stigmatise individuals simply because they have a fever, live in Abuja, or have travelled internationally.

Accurate information protects the public, while misinformation creates unnecessary fear.

3. What Should Nigerians Do to Prevent Ebola?

Prevention begins with personal responsibility and community cooperation. Every Nigerian should adopt the following measures.

A. Practise Good Hand Hygiene

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water, especially after using the toilet, before preparing food, after caring for someone who is ill, and after potentially contaminating your hands.

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser may be used when appropriate, particularly when hands are not visibly dirty and soap and water are unavailable.

Hand hygiene is important, but it must be combined with avoiding direct contact with an infected person's body fluids.

B. Avoid Contact With Body Fluids

Do not touch another person's blood, vomit, diarrhoea, or other body fluids if Ebola is suspected.

If someone becomes seriously ill, do not attempt to manage a suspected Ebola case at home without professional guidance. Contact public health authorities and follow their instructions for safe assessment and medical care.

C. Observe Safe Burial Practices

Traditional burial practices are important to many Nigerian communities. However, direct contact with the body of someone who has died from Ebola can expose mourners to infection.

Suspected or confirmed Ebola-related deaths must be handled by trained personnel following official safe-burial procedures.

Families can honour their loved ones while allowing health authorities to protect the living.

D. Avoid Contact With Potentially Infected Wildlife

Avoid handling bats, monkeys, and other wild animals found sick or dead. Follow official food-safety guidance and avoid handling or consuming wildlife that may pose an infection risk.

E. Follow Official Public Health Information

Obtain information from recognised sources, including the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the WHO.

Do not rely on unverified WhatsApp messages, sensational social media posts, or rumours.

During an outbreak, responsible communication is as important as personal hygiene.

4. What Should You Do If You Develop Symptoms?

This is one of the most important messages I want every Nigerian to understand.

If you develop fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, or other concerning symptoms and believe you may have been exposed to Ebola, do not ignore the symptoms.

Take the following steps:

Avoid close contact with other people. Take precautions to reduce the possibility of exposing family members and others.

Contact public health authorities promptly. Explain your symptoms and any possible exposure or relevant travel history.

Follow instructions about medical assessment and transport. Do not visit several hospitals without first informing the appropriate health personnel that Ebola may be a possibility.

Avoid self-medication. Do not depend on unproven herbal remedies or home treatments as a substitute for professional medical assessment.

Follow professional medical advice. Appropriate supportive care can save lives.

The early symptoms of Ebola may resemble malaria and other common infections. Therefore, people should not attempt to diagnose themselves.

The objective is not to frighten people away from hospitals. It is to ensure that suspected cases reach appropriate medical care safely, with the necessary infection-prevention precautions in place.

5. Special Advice to Healthcare Workers

As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to protect both our patients and ourselves.

Doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, pharmacists, ambulance personnel, community health workers, and other healthcare providers must remain vigilant.

First, healthcare workers should obtain appropriate clinical and exposure histories when assessing patients with fever or unexplained illness.

Second, any suspected case should be promptly escalated through established public health reporting channels. Appropriate precautions, separation from other patients, and safe referral arrangements should be implemented according to official protocols.

Third, healthcare workers must use appropriate personal protective equipment and receive the training necessary to handle suspected cases safely.

Fourth, healthcare facilities should reinforce hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, safe waste disposal, and appropriate handling of potentially contaminated materials.

Fifth, unprotected examinations and procedures that could expose staff to infectious body fluids must be avoided.

Finally, patient confidentiality must be respected. Public communication about suspected and confirmed cases should be coordinated with the appropriate authorities.

Professional courage must be accompanied by professional safety. Protecting healthcare workers is essential to protecting the entire community.

6. Advice to Families and Caregivers

When a family member becomes ill, relatives naturally want to provide care and comfort. However, when Ebola is suspected, direct contact with the person's body fluids can expose caregivers to infection.

Families should contact the appropriate public health response team, avoid direct contact with body fluids, and follow professional instructions concerning isolation, transportation, and medical care.

Do not share potentially contaminated personal items or attempt to clean heavily contaminated clothing and bedding without appropriate guidance.

People identified as contacts of a confirmed case should cooperate with public health officials and follow the recommended monitoring procedures.

Ebola symptoms may develop between 2 and 21 days after exposure. Anyone identified as a contact should follow the monitoring period and instructions provided by public health authorities.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear before reporting a known exposure.

It is equally important not to stigmatise or abandon an affected person. Compassion and appropriate infection-prevention measures can work together.

7. Can Ebola Be Treated?

Ebola is a serious disease, but patients should never be abandoned because of a suspected or confirmed diagnosis.

Medical management includes supportive care tailored to the patient's condition. This may involve maintaining hydration, correcting electrolyte abnormalities, monitoring organ function, and treating complications.

The availability of specific treatments and vaccines depends on the Ebola virus species involved. Therefore, healthcare professionals must follow the latest guidance from relevant public health authorities concerning the particular strain responsible for an outbreak.

People should not depend on claims that particular herbs, foods, supplements, or home remedies can prevent or cure Ebola. No unproven remedy should delay appropriate medical assessment.

Early recognition, professional care, and effective infection prevention remain essential.

8. The Role of Government and the Community

Ebola prevention is not the responsibility of healthcare workers alone. It requires cooperation among individuals, families, community leaders, the media, healthcare facilities, and government institutions.

Government agencies must provide timely public information, strengthen disease surveillance, support laboratory testing, coordinate contact tracing, and ensure that healthcare workers have the training and protective equipment required for their duties.

Schools, religious organisations, workplaces, transport operators, and community associations should share verified health information and discourage rumours.

The media also has an important responsibility to report confirmed information accurately without creating unnecessary panic.

Individuals who may have been exposed should report promptly, while those contacted by public health officials should provide honest and accurate information.

Communities must support affected families without discrimination. A person who is suspected of having Ebola requires appropriate assessment, not public humiliation.

Our shared objective should be to identify infections early, protect people who may have been exposed, and prevent further transmission.

9. My Final Message to Nigerians

As a medical and health professional, I want to emphasise three important principles: prevention, early action, and responsible communication.

First, prevention begins with knowledge. Understand how Ebola spreads, practise good hand hygiene, and avoid contact with potentially infectious body fluids.

Second, do not ignore possible exposure or concerning symptoms. Contact the appropriate public health authorities promptly and follow their instructions.

Third, do not allow fear to replace reason. A confirmed case does not mean that everyone in Abuja or elsewhere in Nigeria is infected. We must distinguish between a confirmed case, a suspected case, and a person who has actually been exposed.

At the same time, we must not become complacent. Ebola is a serious disease, and public cooperation is essential to preventing further transmission.

My message to every Nigerian is this:

Stay calm, stay informed, practise prevention, report suspected exposure promptly, and follow official medical advice.

To my fellow healthcare professionals, remain vigilant, protect yourselves, protect your patients, and report suspected cases through established public health channels.

To government agencies, community leaders, and the media, continue to provide accurate, timely, and understandable information.

To every family, remember that protecting one person can help protect an entire community.

Together, through knowledge, vigilance, compassion, and collective responsibility, we can strengthen our response to Ebola and protect public health.

Prevention is better than cure, and early action can save lives.

May God protect our families, our healthcare workers, and our nation, Nigeria.