Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, stepped up to the podium in Abuja on Sunday with a clear and urgent message: misinformation is one of the biggest threats to Nigeria's ability to contain Ebola.
The briefing came as Idris provided an update on the country's response to a confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory. With a live case on the ground, the stakes for clear, accurate public communication could not be higher.
As health authorities work to manage the situation, the NCDC's concern is that false information spreading faster than facts could seriously weaken an otherwise coordinated response. It is a reminder that in a public health crisis, what people believe matters just as much as what officials do. Watch this space as the situation develops.
Originally published by Premium Times.