A medical expert at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Dr Muhammad Sabitu, has urged healthcare professionals to prioritise early detection of suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases and strictly observe infection prevention measures to prevent its spread.
Dr Sabitu made the call while presenting a paper titled “Ebola Viral Haemorrhagic Fever in Clinical Practice: Early Recognition, Safe Clinical Response and Contact-Based Precautions” at the hospital’s quarterly clinical forum in October 2026.
He said early identification, prompt isolation and appropriate management of suspected cases were critical to protecting healthcare workers, patients and the wider community from possible infection.
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The expert, who works in the hospital’s Department of Microbiology, explained that Ebola symptoms, including fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, could initially resemble those of other common illnesses.
He urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, particularly when patients had a history of contact with suspected or confirmed cases or had travelled from areas experiencing an outbreak.
Dr Sabitu stressed that suspected cases should be promptly isolated and reported to the relevant public health authorities for assessment and appropriate management.
Strict Compliance
He also emphasised strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols, including the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper hand hygiene and safe handling of potentially infectious materials.
According to him, contact-based precautions are essential to reducing exposure to infected blood and body fluids, as well as contaminated medical equipment and surfaces.
He further highlighted the importance of safe patient movement, environmental cleaning, proper waste disposal and the safe management of suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within healthcare facilities.
The expert called on hospitals to ensure that healthcare personnel received adequate training and were properly equipped to manage suspected Ebola infections without exposing themselves, other patients or the public to unnecessary risks.
He also advocated stronger coordination among healthcare workers, disease surveillance teams and public health authorities to ensure timely reporting, contact tracing and appropriate follow-up of exposed persons.
In his remarks, the Acting Chief Medical Director of UDUTH, Professor Usman Sani, assured staff that the hospital management remained committed to providing an enabling environment for effective healthcare delivery.
Sani expressed optimism that Nigeria could be declared free of Ebola by Dec. 7, provided necessary public health measures were sustained and no new cases were recorded.
He explained that the clinical presentations formed part of the hospital’s regular medical education programme designed to update healthcare professionals’ knowledge, improve clinical practice and promote better health outcomes.
The CMD commended the hospital’s Clinical Forum Committee for organising the presentations and raising awareness of critical health issues.
He urged the committee to sustain the initiative by selecting relevant topics that would benefit healthcare professionals and the wider society.
Professor Sani also praised Dr Sabitu for his contribution to professional knowledge-sharing and for highlighting the importance of early recognition and safe management of suspected Ebola cases.
