The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said it had intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a confirmed imported case in Uganda, despite no reported infections in Nigeria. In a public health advisory signed by NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, the agency said heightened vigilance was necessary due to increasing regional mobility and the risk of cross-border transmission.
The agency said it was closely monitoring developments in affected countries and coordinating preparedness efforts with Port Health Services and other stakeholders.“Response activities are ongoing in affected areas, and we are ensuring continued vigilance within Nigeria’s public health system,” Idris said.
The NCDC said it had strengthened nationwide surveillance systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases, intensified event-based monitoring and coordination with state authorities, and improved laboratory and diagnostic readiness.
Other measures include boosting infection prevention and control awareness in healthcare facilities, expanding community engagement and strengthening public risk communication.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe viral infection transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
The disease has an incubation period of two to 21 days and typically begins with symptoms including fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain and sore throat before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
Idris said early detection and isolation remained critical to preventing outbreaks from escalating.He urged healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for Ebola in patients with compatible symptoms, particularly those with recent travel or exposure history linked to affected areas.
Medical personnel were advised to strictly observe infection prevention measures, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, early isolation of suspected cases and prompt reporting through surveillance channels.
The NCDC also appealed to Nigerians not to panic or spread misinformation, stressing that no Ebola case had been confirmed in the country.
Residents were advised to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals and refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources.
The latest alert comes amid growing concerns over possible regional spread due to high cross-border movement and trade.
Nigeria’s large population and extensive travel links make preparedness crucial, particularly given its internationally praised response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when rapid tracing and isolation measures contained the disease after an infected traveller arrived from Liberia.
The World Health Organisation said the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, citing significant regional and global risks.
The decision by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus followed rising infections, deaths and evidence of cross-border transmission, although the organisation said the outbreak had not yet met the threshold for a pandemic emergency.