Parties Oppose Campaign Suspension Over Ebola, Experts Urge Stronger Surveillance

Several political parties have opposed calls to suspend campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections over a reported Ebola case in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to provide clear health guidelines and strengthen preventive measures.

The parties said campaigns could continue under appropriate safety protocols, while public health experts called for improved surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention in healthcare facilities.

Parties Call for Clear Guidelines

The All Progressives Congress urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid politicising the outbreak. However, the African Democratic Congress expressed concern that the government could use the situation to restrict opposition campaigns.

The Social Democratic Party also opposed a blanket suspension, saying candidates needed to communicate their manifestos to voters while prioritising public safety.

Similarly, the Nigeria Democratic Congress called for safer campaign strategies that minimise physical contact, insisting that activities should continue under strict safety protocols rather than be halted without clear justification.

Experts Warn Against Relying on Temperature Screening

Consultant epidemiologist Professor Aisha Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, warned that airport temperature checks alone might fail to identify travellers infected with Ebola, particularly those who have not developed symptoms.

She called for stronger disease surveillance, public awareness, contact tracing and infection prevention measures in hospitals and communities. She also stressed the importance of monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Abubakar said approximately 44 contacts had reportedly been identified for monitoring, underscoring the need for prompt follow-up in line with public health guidance.

Hospitals Urged to Strengthen Preparedness

Professor Tanimola Akande of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital said the reported imported case did not necessarily indicate a failure of preparedness. He noted that surveillance had been intensified at international airports and borders.

Akande explained that Ebola is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person or contaminated materials, rather than through the air like COVID-19. He said routine mask use was therefore not necessary for the general public solely to prevent Ebola transmission.

However, he raised concerns about hospitals' readiness to manage suspected cases, urging the government to provide adequate personal protective equipment and other infection prevention resources.

The experts emphasised that early detection, transparent public communication and effective monitoring would be critical to limiting further transmission while allowing public activities to continue where appropriate.

Punch Newspapers