Enugu, June 2, 2026 – Governments across Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states have activated public health response structures to prevent any potential spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), amid renewed national surveillance efforts.
The states disclosed this in separate interviews while responding to a survey on preventive measures against Ebola in the region.
Health authorities noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had identified some states with high exposure risk due to heavy travel routes, trade activity, international airports and border connectivity.
The NCDC has also advised such states to establish Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) to improve preparedness and rapid response capacity.
In Anambra State, officials said the government had intensified surveillance across health facilities, border communities and major entry points, even though the state was not formally classified among high-risk locations.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said emergency response teams had been placed on alert while health workers were being sensitised to quickly identify and manage suspected cases.
He added that public awareness campaigns would also be rolled out to educate residents on preventive practices such as proper hygiene, avoiding contact with infected persons and reporting symptoms promptly to health facilities.
Obidike reassured residents that the state was working with relevant health agencies to prevent any outbreak, stressing that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration remained committed to protecting public health.
In Enugu State, the government announced the activation of its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) focused on Ebola preparedness and response.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the centre brings together key health stakeholders and partners, and has already held its inaugural coordination meeting where response structures were established.
He explained that the EOC has developed an incident management framework and identified key response areas including surveillance, screening at entry points, risk communication, and training of frontline health workers.
Ugwu also disclosed plans to establish a functional isolation and holding facility at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane.
He urged residents not to panic, noting that there was no confirmed case of the disease in the country, while encouraging strict hygiene practices, environmental cleanliness and prompt medical attention rather than self-medication.
According to him, the state government under Governor Peter Mbah is fully committed to strengthening the health system and ensuring readiness for any potential health threat.
He further noted that the EOC would collaborate with agencies at various entry points in the state to enhance coordinated monitoring and response.
In Ebonyi State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, confirmed that no Ebola case had been recorded in the state and assured that preventive systems were already in place.
He said the state had intensified public sensitisation efforts and urged residents to observe strict hygiene and avoid contact with suspected cases or contaminated bodily fluids.
Ekuma also cautioned against the consumption of bushmeat such as bats, monkeys and other wildlife animals, which have been linked to transmission risks.
He listed common symptoms of the disease to include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea and internal or external bleeding, advising residents to seek immediate medical attention if such signs appear.
Medical experts at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, also confirmed readiness to respond to any suspected case, stating that no infection had been recorded at the facility.
Some residents across Ebonyi expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness, while calling for increased public awareness, particularly in rural communities, to strengthen prevention efforts.