The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has heightened national surveillance and emergency preparedness protocols against the Ebola Virus Disease in response to the expanding outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Director General of the agency, Jide Idris, released a new public health advisory on Sunday stating that while Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed cases connected to the regional outbreak, the risk of the disease being imported remains high. He attributed this elevated risk to international travel, population movement, and the high rate of transmission currently observed in the affected East African nations.
Following a recent risk assessment, the agency identified border communities, major transport hubs, and international entry points as highly vulnerable areas that require strict monitoring. The advisory stated, "This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever."
In response to the threat, the NCDC has placed the National Emergency Operations Centre on alert mode and activated the National Incident Management System to establish clear reporting and escalation channels for nationwide coordination. The agency also noted that epidemiologists and Rapid Response Teams are currently on standby for immediate deployment to any state should the need arise. Furthermore, the public health institution is collaborating closely with state Ministries of Health, Port Health Services, and other relevant government bodies to bolster national readiness.
Across the country, surveillance and epidemic intelligence operations have been scaled up. This includes the rigorous monitoring of unusual health events, rumours, and alerts to guarantee the swift detection of any suspected cases. The agency added, "Enhanced surveillance activities are also ongoing at points of entry and border communities." To further prevent infections, the NCDC has distributed Ebola preparedness tools and checklists to healthcare facilities nationwide. Health workers are also receiving refresher training on triage systems, infection prevention protocols, and the early identification of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.
State governments have been instructed to designate isolation and treatment centres, evaluate their bed capacities, upgrade logistical systems, and guarantee the availability of emergency medical supplies. The NCDC revealed plans to strategically preposition crucial response materials, including personal protective equipment, body bags, laboratory consumables, and other emergency supplies across various regions. Regarding laboratory readiness, the agency confirmed that Nigeria currently possesses testing capabilities in states with international ports of entry and within the national public health laboratory network, with additional surge capacity available for Ebola testing if required.
The NCDC also cautioned the public against the spread of misinformation. The agency has launched extensive public awareness campaigns and distributed educational materials to debunk false claims circulating online. Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and frequently fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated objects. Health experts note that the disease, which presents symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache, and muscle pain, does not spread through the air.
The latest alert brings back memories of the successful containment of the virus in Nigeria in 2014, following the arrival of an infected Liberian American diplomat in Lagos. That outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths before health authorities halted further transmission through vigorous contact tracing, isolation protocols, and public awareness initiatives. The World Health Organisation widely commended the response of the country, which is still regarded as one of the most effective epidemic containment efforts in Africa.
The renewed focus on the disease follows fresh outbreaks in Central and East Africa, where health authorities are struggling to manage recurrent viral haemorrhagic fevers amidst cross border movements and weakened health systems. Public health experts have consistently cautioned that increased global travel and porous borders remain significant threats to African countries, including Nigeria, despite the improvements made to disease surveillance systems following the COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks of Lassa fever and monkeypox.
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