Nigeria has stepped up nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness efforts against Ebola Virus Disease following the worsening outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Saturday.
In a new public health advisory issued on Sunday by the NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, the agency stated that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case connected to the ongoing regional outbreak. However, it warned that the risk of importation remains high due to international travel, population movement, and the scale of transmission in affected East African countries.
According to the agency, its latest risk assessment identified border communities, major transport hubs, and international points of entry as high-risk locations requiring intensified monitoring.
“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,” the advisory stated.
The NCDC disclosed that the National Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert mode, while the National Incident Management System has been activated with clear reporting and escalation channels to coordinate response activities across the country.
The agency added that epidemiologists and Rapid Response Teams have been placed on standby for possible deployment to any state if necessary.
The public health agency also revealed that it is strengthening collaboration with state Ministries of Health, Port Health Services, and other relevant government agencies to improve national preparedness.
In addition, surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities have been intensified nationwide, including closer monitoring of unusual public health events, rumours, and alerts to ensure early detection of suspected cases.
“Enhanced surveillance activities are also ongoing at points of entry and border communities,” it added.
As part of infection prevention measures, the NCDC said Ebola preparedness tools and checklists have been distributed to healthcare facilities nationwide, while refresher training sessions are ongoing for health workers on triage systems, infection prevention protocols, and early detection of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.
The agency further noted that states have been advised to designate isolation and treatment centres, evaluate bed capacity, strengthen logistics systems, and ensure the availability of emergency medical supplies.
It added that plans are underway to preposition essential response materials such as personal protective equipment, body bags, laboratory consumables, and other emergency supplies in strategic locations nationwide.
Regarding laboratory readiness, the NCDC stated that Nigeria currently maintains testing capability in states with international ports of entry and within the national public health laboratory network, while surge capacity for Ebola testing remains available if needed.
The agency also cautioned against misinformation, saying it has intensified public awareness campaigns and developed “Ebola Myths and Facts” materials to counter false claims circulating online.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated materials.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, and muscle pain. Health experts have clarified that the disease does not spread through the air.
Nigeria’s latest alert has revived memories of the country’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 after an infected Liberian-American diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
That outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths before health authorities successfully halted further transmission through aggressive contact tracing, isolation measures, and public awareness campaigns.
Nigeria’s response at the time received widespread praise from the World Health Organisation and has since been regarded as one of Africa’s most effective epidemic containment efforts.
The current regional concern follows renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa, particularly in Uganda and the DRC, where health authorities continue to battle recurring viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks amid cross-border movement and fragile health systems.
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that increased global travel and porous borders continue to pose significant risks for countries across Africa, including Nigeria, despite improved disease surveillance systems established after the COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks of Ebola, monkeypox and Lassa fever.