Public health experts have urged Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation about the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), warning that false claims could fuel panic, encourage harmful practices and weaken disease control efforts.
The experts gave the advice during the monthly X-Space webinar organised by Orodata Science and monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
The webinar, titled “Tracking Outbreak: How Data and Facts Keep Us Safe from Ebola Rumours,” focused on the role of accurate information in preventing fear and supporting public health responses.
A health educator, Mr Ayomide Alebiowu, described misinformation as one of the greatest threats during disease outbreaks because it spreads fear and promotes risky behaviour.
He urged Nigerians to verify health-related information before sharing it and report false claims to the appropriate authorities.
“Before forwarding any health message, verify it through credible sources. People should only share information with clearly identifiable sources,” he said.
Alebiowu advised the public to be wary of anonymous messages beginning with phrases such as “a doctor said” or “my friend working in a hospital said,” describing such claims as warning signs.
“If a message has no identifiable source, that is a red flag. Whenever you see a message urging you to ‘share to save lives’, stop and verify it first. Never circulate information simply because someone forwarded it,” he said.
According to him, misinformation often spreads faster than verified information, making it capable of triggering widespread panic during disease outbreaks.
Alebiowu explained that Ebola is a severe viral disease with six known strains, noting that the strain currently circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo differs from the Zaire strain responsible for Nigeria’s 2014 outbreak.
He said there was currently no approved cure for the circulating strain, although research on vaccines and treatments for different Ebola variants was ongoing.
He added that early Ebola symptoms—including fever, headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, and general weakness—closely resemble those of malaria and typhoid fever, making prompt diagnosis essential.
“Once you notice the early symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Do not assume it is malaria and begin self-medication,” he advised.
Alebiowu reiterated that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person and is neither airborne nor transmitted by mosquitoes.
He urged Nigerians to obtain health information only from recognised institutions such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Doctors Without Borders.
“We must understand how information spreads because misinformation can become an epidemic on its own,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Alebiowu attributed the achievement to coordinated surveillance, extensive contact tracing, laboratory testing, prompt isolation of suspected cases and effective public communication.
“We monitored nearly 900 contacts across three states and recorded only about 20 confirmed cases. That demonstrates the level of work that went into containing the outbreak,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems had improved significantly over the past decade.
“I won’t say Nigeria is 100 per cent ready, but I would say we are more than 60 per cent prepared and remain on alert,” he said.
Also speaking, a registered nurse, Ms Lilian Amaka, said health workers continued to battle not only infectious diseases but also the harmful effects of misinformation.
She said nurses frequently encountered patients influenced by false claims circulating on social media and messaging platforms.
Amaka recalled widespread misconceptions about HIV transmission and the false belief during the 2014 Ebola outbreak that drinking or bathing with salt water could prevent infection.
She noted that some people reportedly died after consuming excessive quantities of salt water during the panic.
“Our greatest challenge is helping people distinguish facts from rumours. Everyone should verify information before sharing it,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to ignore health messages without identifiable authors or official endorsements, particularly those promoting home remedies made from common household ingredients.
Amaka also commended Nigerian hospitals for strengthening screening procedures during the 2014 outbreak through temperature checks, prompt isolation of suspected cases and laboratory testing.
The experts urged Nigerians to remain vigilant without panicking, stressing that early reporting of symptoms, reliance on verified information and responsible sharing of health messages remain the country’s strongest defence against Ebola and other infectious diseases.
NAN reports that Nigeria recorded its first Ebola case in July 2014 after an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. Through aggressive contact tracing, surveillance, laboratory testing, case management and coordinated public health interventions, the country contained the outbreak within months.
Nigeria’s response has since been recognised internationally as one of Africa’s most successful infectious disease containment efforts.
Source: (NAN)
