The federal government says it has deepened public health response following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja on Tuesday.

The foreign affairs ministry disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. According to the ministry, this response to the confirmed case in Abuja comes against the backdrop of information provided by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

“The patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda,” the ministry said. “She was subsequently admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received medical care for several days before her diagnosis was confirmed; the patient is currently in isolation and receiving treatment.”

The government said it was working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat to contain the infection and prevent further transmission and that tracing operations had commenced with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring and appropriate public health follow-up.

“Government is also coordinating surveillance, laboratory testing and other essential response activities in line with established public health protocols,” it said.

It said the measures are intended to facilitate early identification of potential cases, strengthen infection prevention and control, and minimise the risk of further transmission. It reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of Nigerians and all residents, urging the public to cooperate with these measures.

(NAN)