The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has instructed airlines, airport operators and other aviation stakeholders to strengthen public health surveillance following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
In a circular dated May 18, 2026, the NCAA said the directive was issued in response to rising concerns over the spread of the disease and the aviation sector’s role in preventing cross-border transmission.
The authority noted that although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case linked to the outbreak, it is working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Port Health Services and international health bodies to closely monitor developments.
According to the NCAA, health officials in the DRC recently detected a cluster of severe illnesses among healthcare workers in the Bunia Health Zone in the country’s northeast.
Laboratory tests later confirmed the presence of the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of the Ebola virus known to cause severe viral haemorrhagic disease in humans.
The authority stated that there is currently no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, with treatment largely based on supportive care and symptom management.
It listed Ebola symptoms to include sudden fever, severe fatigue, persistent headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding signs such as nosebleeds or vomiting blood.
The NCAA stressed that early detection and prompt reporting are essential to preventing international spread.
As part of preventive steps, it said surveillance systems at airports have been strengthened, while contact tracing, case reporting procedures and border health screening measures have also been reinforced.
The authority further directed pilots to inform Air Traffic Control of any suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft, in line with civil aviation regulations.
It also instructed crew members to complete Aircraft General Declaration forms for suspected cases and directed airlines to ensure passenger locator forms are submitted to Port Health Services upon arrival.
The NCAA added that aircraft must be equipped with first aid kits, universal precaution kits and emergency medical kits.
Operators were also urged to improve crew training on managing communicable diseases and to strictly follow infection prevention protocols.
The authority called on all aviation stakeholders to remain vigilant and comply fully with health guidelines to protect passengers, crew members and the public from potential risks.