Lagos State Government has assured residents that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in the state, stressing that its emergency response and disease surveillance systems remain fully active amid the outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa.

Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said the state was closely monitoring the situation following directives from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noting that the outbreak, which has reportedly caused about 177 deaths from nearly 700 suspected cases, remains limited to Congo and Uganda.

According to the ministry, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to concerns that difficult terrain in the affected countries could complicate containment efforts.

Abayomi said Lagos had maintained a permanent culture of preparedness since the Ebola outbreak and further strengthened its systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that the state’s emergency response structure includes the Lagos State Incident Command System headed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, alongside a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre responsible for disease surveillance and public health intelligence gathering.

The commissioner added that the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba remained on high alert with isolation and intensive care facilities ready for infectious disease management, while the Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility had intensified surveillance and diagnostic operations for high-risk pathogens.

He also disclosed that Lagos was working closely with Port Health Authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Federal Ministry of Health, FAAN, NCDC and NIMR to strengthen monitoring at entry points into the state.

According to the ministry, flights arriving from East and Central Africa are receiving heightened scrutiny as part of measures aimed at early detection and risk prevention.

The government further stated that Community Health Workers, Community Development Associations and Civil Society Organisations had been integrated into the surveillance network to improve information sharing and early warning systems.

Emergency supplies including gloves, Personal Protective Equipment and sanitisers have also been deployed across strategic locations, while ambulance services remain on standby for rapid intervention.

Abayomi said the state’s focus remained on prevention, early detection, prompt reporting and coordinated emergency response, assuring residents that Lagos remained vigilant and prepared.

The government advised residents returning from Congo or Uganda, or those who had contact with travellers from affected areas, to seek immediate medical guidance where necessary.