The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a confirmed imported case in Uganda.
Although no Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, health authorities say heightened vigilance has become necessary because of increasing movement across African borders and the risk of regional transmission.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency was closely monitoring developments in affected countries while strengthening preparedness measures across the country.
According to Idris, the agency is collaborating with Port Health Services and other stakeholders to ensure rapid detection and response in the event of any suspected case in Nigeria.
“Response activities are ongoing in affected areas, and we are ensuring continued vigilance within Nigeria’s public health system,” he said.
The NCDC boss explained that surveillance systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases had been strengthened nationwide, alongside increased event-based monitoring and coordination with state health authorities.
He added that the agency had also enhanced laboratory preparedness and intensified infection prevention awareness in healthcare facilities across the country.
Other measures, he said, include expanded community engagement and public risk communication aimed at educating Nigerians on preventive actions and early reporting of symptoms.
Idris stated that the agency was continuously monitoring global and regional developments to ensure swift intervention should the situation escalate.
Ebola Virus Disease is a highly infectious and often fatal viral illness transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials from humans or animals.
According to the NCDC, the disease has an incubation period of between two and 21 days.
Early symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, sore throat and muscle pain before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
The NCDC stressed that early detection, isolation and prompt treatment remain critical in preventing the spread of the disease.
Idris advised healthcare workers nationwide to maintain a high level of alertness, especially when handling patients showing symptoms associated with Ebola or those with recent travel history linked to affected countries.
He urged medical personnel to strictly observe infection prevention protocols, including proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, early isolation of suspected cases and immediate reporting through official surveillance channels.
The NCDC director-general also appealed to Nigerians to avoid panic and disregard misinformation circulating about the disease.
“There is currently no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria,” he stated.
He advised residents to maintain proper hygiene practices, avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of sick persons and refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources.
Idris further encouraged members of the public to promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility and rely only on verified information from recognised public health authorities.
The renewed alert has heightened concerns over the possibility of regional spread, particularly among countries with extensive cross-border trade and travel activities.
Nigeria’s large population and busy international travel routes have made preparedness efforts especially important, considering the country’s previous experience with Ebola outbreaks.
Nigeria gained global recognition in 2014 after successfully containing an Ebola outbreak through swift contact tracing and isolation measures following the arrival of an infected traveller from Liberia.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the decision on May 16 under the International Health Regulations (2005), citing rising infections, deaths and evidence of cross-border transmission.
However, the organisation clarified that the outbreak had not yet reached the threshold required to classify it as a global pandemic emergency.
According to WHO data, as of May 16, at least eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected infections and 80 suspected deaths had been recorded in Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo.
Affected communities include Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu, where clusters of unexplained deaths have triggered concerns among health officials.
In Uganda, authorities confirmed two Ebola cases, including one death, in Kampala within 24 hours.
Health officials said both individuals had recently travelled from DR Congo, confirming international transmission of the virus.
Unlike some other Ebola strains, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo variant, a development that has continued to raise concerns among global health experts.
