The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it has launched a statewide emergency public awareness campaign tagged “Operation Lagos BioShield” to strengthen surveillance and prevent the possible importation of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into the state amid fresh outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.

Disclosing this, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, however, reassured residents that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria, stressing that the campaign is a preventive response aimed at keeping the state ahead of any potential threat.

“This campaign is not a response to a crisis. It is a proactive measure to strengthen public awareness, preparedness and prevention.”

The state government said the renewed alert followed outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, a strain for which there is no widely available licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

Abayomi warned that prevention, early detection and rapid isolation remain the most effective safeguards against the deadly disease.

“Prevention, early detection, rapid isolation and supportive medical care remain our most effective tools.”

He added that public understanding of the disease would help curb panic, misinformation and stigma.

Explaining the mode of transmission, the commissioner said Ebola is not spread through casual contact but through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person who is already symptomatic.