The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised an alert over a high risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria, following ongoing outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said it has activated nationwide preparedness and surveillance measures to reduce the likelihood of importation and rapid spread of the virus.
The warning comes amid worsening Ebola outbreaks in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, where hundreds of suspected cases and over 100 deaths have been reported. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Risk assessment and surveillance
According to the NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, a recent risk assessment shows that the likelihood of Ebola being imported into Nigeria is high, citing:
Ongoing transmission in affected countries
High volume of international travel and population movement
Risk of delayed detection due to symptom similarity with malaria and Lassa fever
He noted that border communities, major transport hubs, and Points of Entry (PoEs) have been identified as high-risk zones.
Emergency response activated
The agency said it has placed the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on alert mode, while the Incident Management System (IMS) has been activated to coordinate response efforts.
It also confirmed that:
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are on standby for deployment
Coordination with state health ministries and other agencies has been strengthened
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) tools have been distributed to health facilities nationwide
Healthcare workers are undergoing refresher training on Ebola detection and safety protocols
Public advisory
The NCDC urged Nigerians to take preventive measures, including:
- Avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick persons
- Reporting unusual deaths and symptoms immediately
- Avoiding bushmeat and contact with dead animals
- Practising regular hand hygiene
- Disclosing travel history to health workers
It also advised travellers returning from high-risk countries to monitor their health for 21 days and report any symptoms promptly.
The agency stressed that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak, but warned that preparedness must remain strong due to past experiences with viral haemorrhagic fever.
The NCDC said it will continue monitoring the situation closely, urging citizens to rely only on verified public health information and avoid panic
