From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa state government has intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness following reports of an Ebola case in Nigeria, disclosing that five persons identified through airport screening are being monitored for 21 days.
However, the government said no case of Ebola had been recorded in the state urging residents to remain calm, observe preventive measures and avoid spreading unverified information capable of triggering public panic.
“The commissioner for Health, prof. Seiyefa Brisibe disclosed this during a press briefing in Yenagoa the bayelsa state capital, where he outlined measures being implemented to strengthen the state’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to any possible introduction of the virus.”
Brisibe said the federal ministry of health and social welfare, through the Nigeria centre for disease control and prevention, had confirmed an Ebola case on October 20, 2026, prompting heightened vigilance among public health authorities.
“He said the state government had strengthened its public health preparedness through enhanced disease surveillance, emergency coordination, infection prevention and control, and rapid response mechanisms.”
“According to him, the state’s immediate priorities include activating emergency operations, strengthening surveillance, preparing isolation and case management facilities, protecting healthcare workers, intensifying community engagement and collaborating with national and international health partners, including the World Health organisation and UNICEF.”
The commissioner urged residents to report suspected cases promptly to the appropriate health authorities and obtain information only from verified sources, including the state and federal ministries of health and other recognised public health agencies,he warned that spreading rumours about suspected Ebola infections could undermine public health interventions and create unnecessary fear.
“Please do not rely on rumours about Ebola that could cause panic or spread misinformation,anyone who suspects exposure to the virus should contact the nearest health facility, doctor or healthcare provider and use the designated emergency contact numbers provided by the authorities,” he said.
Brisibe stressed that preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases required the active participation of residents, noting that outbreaks could affect people irrespective of their ethnic background, race, economic status or social standing.
He urged residents to promptly report credible information about suspected cases rather than circulate unverified claims on social media or other communication platforms,”If you see anything, say something. If you hear anything, take action this is not just about the Ministry of health or the Bayelsa state government; it is about all of us,” he added.
The commissioner also appealed to residents to maintain proper hygiene, particularly regular handwashing with soap and water and the use of appropriate hand sanitisers.
He called on ministries, government agencies, public institutions and private businesses to provide handwashing facilities on their premises to promote good hygiene practices,however, he cautioned against allowing the preventive measures to create unnecessary anxiety, explaining that hand hygiene was an essential public health practice that helped prevent several infectious diseases, not Ebola alone.
The government also warned against stigmatising people because of their travel history or suspected exposure to the virus.
Brisibe said anyone suspected of exposure should be subjected to appropriate medical assessment and established public health procedures rather than speculation, discrimination or public condemnation.
The commissioner said the state’s experience in managing previous public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and cholera outbreaks had strengthened its capacity to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats.
He recalled that during a diarrhoeal disease and cholera outbreak in 2025, the state adopted measures centred on prevention, community engagement, improved hygiene and effective case management.
According to him, more than 1,000 suspected cases were managed during the outbreak without any recorded deaths in public and private hospitals across the state.
He said the experience reinforced the importance of early intervention, effective communication, disease surveillance and prompt medical attention in reducing the impact of infectious disease outbreaks.
Brisibe explained that the state’s public health strategy was built around three major priorities: preventing outbreaks through public education and community engagement, limiting transmission through improved hygiene contact tracing and surveillance and ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and treatment to reduce fatalities if cases occurred.
He said the same principles were being applied to the state’s Ebola preparedness efforts, with prevention remaining the immediate priority, “we have gained a lot of valuable experience in handling public health emergencies, including COVID-19, cholera and other infectious disease outbreaks”.
“Our first principle is prevention that is why we have chosen to engage the press and other stakeholders early so that you can help educate our people, discourage panic and encourage everyone to become a partner in preventing an outbreak,” he said.
The government disclosed that it was strengthening emergency coordination and rapid-response capacity, with the Bayelsa Emergency Ambulance System providing additional logistical support for emergency medical services.
Brisibe said the Ministry of Health had activated relevant technical teams and appointed an incident manager to coordinate preparedness activities,he identified the director of public health, Dr Ebikapaye Okoyen, as the incident manager, while a technical team led by the ministry’s permanent secretary was coordinating the response.
The team is expected to coordinate the various response components, identify existing gaps and ensure that necessary preparedness measures are implemented. Saying the arrangement would improve coordination among health officials and strengthen the state’s ability to identify assess and respond promptly to potential public health threats.
He added that the ministry would continue to provide periodic updates to keep residents informed about developments,coastal communities ,under surveillance the government also highlighted the need to strengthen disease surveillance in coastal communities, particularly in areas where access to formal healthcare services and conventional monitoring systems could be challenging.
Brisibe explained that the movement of people through coastal waterways and offshore locations presented additional surveillance challenges, especially where fishing communities interacted with vessels operating in the area.
He said the government was examining potential gaps in monitoring such locations to improve early detection and ensure that vulnerable communities were not excluded from the state’s public health surveillance network.
” commissioner called for stronger cooperation among healthcare professionals, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, transport operators and the media to support disease prevention and reporting.”
He urged community stakeholders to disseminate accurate information, encourage residents to report suspected cases and discourage discrimination against anyone requiring medical evaluation.
The government assured residents that it remained committed to protecting public health through continuous surveillance, public education and emergency preparedness,it said strengthened disease surveillance had also helped the state monitor infectious disease threats reported in neighbouring states although the specific outbreak referenced during the briefing was not identified.
Brisibe reiterated the need for residents to remain calm, follow verified public health advisories and promptly report suspected cases through established channels,
he emphasised that effective disease prevention required cooperation among government agencies, healthcare professionals, community leaders, the media and members of the public.
The commissioner urged residents to remain informed and vigilant, stressing that suspected cases should be reported to ensure proper medical assessment and prevent possible transmission,rather than to stigmatise affected individuals, “the protection of the public is a shared responsibility and together we can reduce the risk of Ebola entering and spreading within the state,” he said.
