Oyo records no Ebola case, activates disease surveillance
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Government has assured residents that no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been recorded in the state, adding that surveillance and emergency response measures had been activated to prevent and contain any potential outbreak.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, gave the assurance on Wednesday during an interview with journalists in her office.
Ajetunmobi said the Ministry of Health began preparations in June 2026 to strengthen the state’s readiness for possible outbreaks of Ebola and other infectious diseases, including diphtheria. She said the government had adopted the One Health approach, involving the Ministries of Information, Agriculture and Environment, as well as the Epidemiology Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
According to her, disease surveillance units had been activated across the state’s 33 local government areas, while information and educational materials on Ebola transmission, prevention and emergency contacts had been distributed to health facilities. She added that infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened, with health workers directed to remain alert to symptoms suggestive of the disease.
The commissioner warned residents against ignoring possible symptoms, noting that Ebola’s early signs could resemble those of malaria. She listed sudden fever, severe headache, joint or muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme tiredness, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding as symptoms requiring prompt medical attention. She added that the incubation period ranged from two to 21 days.
Ajetunmobi said trained healthcare personnel, including laboratory teams responsible for sample collection and testing, were available to respond to suspected cases. She also disclosed that the Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo had been prepared as part of the state’s emergency response arrangements, while public awareness campaigns were being intensified to promote prevention and early reporting.
The government urged residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. It also cautioned against direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of suspected or confirmed Ebola patients, as well as potentially contaminated materials. Ajetunmobi stressed that cooperation among government agencies, healthcare workers, the media and communities was essential to preventing and containing disease outbreaks.
The government released emergency contacts for reporting suspected cases across the state. Residents in Ibadan can call 0803374205, 08025245809, 08033515158 or 07039531882; those in Ogbomoso can call 08195531882 or 08024347856; and residents in Oyo can contact 08132407856 or 08033397856. In Ibarapa, the numbers are 08020325728 and 08020335728, while residents in Oke-Ogun can call 09062433608 or 07067737410. Ajetunmobi reiterated that no confirmed case had been recorded and urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information.
