The Oyo State Government has said that the state is free of the dreadful Ebola disease.
This is as it issued a proactive public health advisory to safeguard residents against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), even as it declared the state 100 per cent Ebola-free.
The advisory, issued under the administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde, was released by the Ministry of Health through its Directorate of Public Health and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday.
Speaking on the initiative, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, explained that the proactive measure became necessary due to current regional outbreaks and the risks associated with cross-border movements. She noted that the state’s extensive land borders and busy transportation routes present monitoring challenges, requiring robust screening and early detection systems to prevent importation.
To reinforce defense measures within the medical sector, the advisory issued mandatory operational directives for healthcare workers. Practitioners are instructed to maintain a high index of suspicion, strictly adhere to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, conduct thorough travel and exposure assessments, isolate suspected cases immediately, and consistently use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Furthermore, healthcare personnel were directed to minimize unnecessary exposure, handle and transport specimens safely according to national guidelines, and support rapid contact tracing. Any suspected cases must be reported immediately to the Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), State DSNO, State Epidemiologist, and the Director of Public Health.
For local communities, the advisory outlined a four-step emergency protocol for any individual exhibiting sudden fever alongside a relevant exposure or travel history:
Remain calm: Do not panic.
Isolate safely: Move the individual into a well-ventilated, separate room.
Avoid contact: Ensure zero direct contact with bodily fluids, clothing, or personal utensils.
Notify authorities: Alert health officials immediately without waiting for laboratory confirmation.
The advisory strongly cautioned residents against self-medication, home remedies, or herbal treatments, emphasizing the necessity of evaluation by trained medical personnel. It also stressed strict adherence to the Safe Burial Mandate, warning that in the event of any suspected Ebola-related death, residents must not touch, wash, or prepare the body. Only trained public health teams are authorized to conduct safe and dignified burials in accordance with national guidelines.
Clarifying how the virus spreads, the document explained that EVD requires direct physical contact with infectious bodily fluids, unsafe burials, infected wildlife (such as bats and monkeys), bushmeat, or contaminated surfaces. It emphasized that the disease does not spread through casual contact and that individuals cannot transmit the virus before symptoms develop.
Early indicators of Ebola include sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain, fatigue, sore throat, and loss of appetite—symptoms that can initially resemble malaria or typhoid. Advanced symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, red eyes, skin rash, difficulty breathing, and unexplained bleeding, though bleeding does not occur in every case.
To ensure swift intervention, the government released its Statewide Emergency Response Directory. Residents can reach the Central Command via 08033742052 and 08025245809, alongside dedicated zonal lines for Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa, and Oke-Ogun.
The ministry urged all residents to remain vigilant, concluding: “If you see something, say something. Early detection and prompt reporting save lives. Together, we keep Oyo State safe.”
