‎Ebola Outbreak: Scientists Urge Virtual Campaigns Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Kaduna State Branch, has urged political parties to adopt virtual campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections to minimise physical contact amid the Ebola outbreak.

The branch chairman, Mr Turman Benjamin, made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.

Benjamin advised political parties to leverage social media, text messages, telephone calls and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet as alternatives to physical rallies.

‎He said the approach would help reduce unnecessary physical contact and minimise the risk of exposure to the virus while health authorities work to contain the outbreak.

‎The medical laboratory scientist also urged the Kaduna State Government to intensify public awareness campaigns, trace contacts linked to the confirmed case and provide healthcare workers with adequate protective equipment.

‎He advised residents to avoid unnecessary physical contact, including handshakes and hugs, while maintaining proper hygiene practices.

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‎According to him, Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of infected persons.

‎Benjamin also warned against handling the bodies of suspected or confirmed Ebola victims without appropriate training and protective equipment.

‎He stressed that only trained and adequately equipped personnel should handle such bodies, particularly during burial preparations, to minimise the risk of infection.

‎The chairman called on the government to ensure that hospitals were adequately supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and other essential protective gear.

‎He explained that laboratory testing was crucial to confirming Ebola infections because the disease’s early symptoms could resemble those of other illnesses, including malaria and typhoid fever.

‎Benjamin further advised Nigerians to exercise caution when handling or consuming wild animals that could carry infectious diseases.

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‎He urged the media to intensify public education on Ebola transmission and prevention, as well as the importance of seeking prompt medical attention when symptoms develop.

He also called on healthcare workers and members of the public to remain vigilant, emphasising that early detection and effective infection prevention measures were critical to containing the outbreak.

‎Earlier, Bigpen reported that the Federal Government had confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring to prevent further transmission.

‎The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the infection was confirmed.

‎She has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care, while health authorities have commenced contact tracing to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.

‎(NAN)

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