The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians against spreading misinformation about Ebola, warning that false claims could fuel public fear, discourage symptom reporting and undermine efforts to contain the disease.
The Director-General of the agency, Jide Idris, gave the warning during a briefing in Abuja on Sunday while providing an update on the country’s response to the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
Idris urged the public to obtain information from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other authorised health agencies, rather than share unverified reports.
He said the NCDC was strengthening community engagement and risk communication to tackle rumours and misinformation, adding that verified updates would be released as more information became available.
The NCDC chief also called on individuals contacted by public health officials to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and provide accurate details of their movements, contacts and any symptoms they may have experienced.
The warning comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to prevent further transmission following confirmation of its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20.
