The designated toll-free emergency helpline of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), ‘6232’, failed to connect callers just hours following the detection of an Ebola infection in the Federal Capital Territory.
Health officials announced on Tuesday that a female traveler who arrived in Abuja via Uganda was placed in isolation after testing positive for the lethal virus. In response, disease surveillance teams launched contact tracing efforts for 44 people to monitor potential exposure and prevent community transmission.
In its advisory, the NCDC urged citizens to stay calm, rely solely on verified updates, and remain mindful that Ebola transmits through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. The agency actively encouraged the public to flag any suspected infections via its 24-hour helpline, 6232.
However, verification tests conducted on Wednesday revealed that the hotline was completely jammed. Repeated dialling attempts from different telephone lines produced an automated busy alert after ringing briefly for a few seconds.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan Ministry of Health published an official clarification rejecting suggestions that the patient contracted the illness within its borders. Ugandan authorities explained that the individual only transited through their territory in early October without any symptoms, highlighting that their country has recorded zero active Ebola cases and that the true origin of exposure is still being investigated.
