Nigeria Says No Need to Restrict Large Gatherings After Ebola Case

Nigeria’s Health and Social Welfare Minister Muhammad Pate said on Thursday there was no immediate need to cancel political campaigns, conferences or other large gatherings following an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking in Abuja, he said decisions would follow scientific evidence and public-health advice, with restrictions reconsidered if circumstances changed. High-risk contacts were quarantined, while others were isolated and monitored, and the patient remained under treatment. Pate said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had activated its incident management system, while hospitals were directed to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention.