FG Places 46 Ebola Contacts on 21-Day No-Fly List

The Federal Government has directed aviation authorities to place 46 persons who had contact with a confirmed Ebola patient on a no-fly list for at least 21 days to prevent potential transmission of the disease.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the directive on Wednesday following a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to discuss containment measures.

Keyamo said the 46 individuals comprised 44 people who came into contact with the infected woman at a private hospital in Abuja while she was experiencing symptoms, as well as two members of her domestic staff.

He explained that the restriction was intended to prevent the identified contacts from travelling while health authorities continued their investigations and monitoring to determine whether they had contracted the virus.

The minister directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately notify all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria of the restriction and ensure compliance.

He also instructed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen Ebola screening and surveillance measures at international airports across the country.

The measures include enhanced health screening, temperature checks, travel history documentation and digital health declarations, alongside closer coordination with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The directive followed the Federal Government’s confirmation of an imported Ebola virus disease case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20.

The infected woman had recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in the country. She sought treatment at a private medical facility in Abuja on October 11 before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.

The patient was subsequently isolated and placed under medical care, while public health authorities commenced contact tracing to identify and monitor people who might have been exposed.

The World Health Organisation identified the infection as the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, which has been associated with an ongoing outbreak in parts of Africa.

Ebola is transmitted primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through contaminated materials. Symptoms may appear between two and 21 days after exposure.

The Federal Government has urged people contacted by public health officials to provide the necessary information and comply with monitoring and other instructions.

Authorities have also called on Nigerians to remain calm, observe recommended hygiene practices and avoid spreading unverified information about the outbreak.

The government is working with health agencies and international partners to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and infection pre.vention measures to prevent further transmission