Nigeria’s public health authorities have raised fresh concerns over the possibility of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) finding its way into the country following renewed outbreaks in parts of East Africa, prompting heightened surveillance and emergency preparedness measures nationwide.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has classified the risk of importation of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola into Nigeria as high, citing increased regional transmission, cross-border movements, and the possibility of delayed detection due to similarities between Ebola symptoms and other common diseases prevalent in Nigeria.
The warning was issued by the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, during a high-level media briefing in Lagos, where he outlined the agency’s readiness strategy amid growing concerns over outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
According to Idris, the risk assessment followed a comprehensive dynamic evaluation conducted by the agency in response to the evolving public health situation across East Africa. He noted that the challenge of identifying Ebola cases early remains significant because initial symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache, and body pains closely resemble those associated with malaria, Lassa fever, and other infectious diseases common in Nigeria.
Although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the NCDC has intensified nationwide preparedness efforts aimed at preventing the virus from crossing into the country and containing any potential outbreak should one occur.
The agency disclosed that surveillance activities have been strengthened at airports, land borders, and other points of entry. Laboratory capacities have also been enhanced to ensure rapid diagnosis, while risk communication campaigns are being expanded to educate citizens on prevention and early reporting.
Other measures activated by the NCDC include emergency case management protocols, enhanced disease monitoring systems, and closer coordination between federal and state health authorities.
Dr. Idris urged all state governments across the federation to activate their Emergency Operations Centres and ensure that response teams remain on standby for any public health emergency. He also called on healthcare workers, surveillance officers, and frontline responders to maintain a high level of alertness when attending to patients presenting symptoms associated with viral haemorrhagic fevers.
“Since the confirmation of the outbreak in the region, NCDC has intensified preparedness activities nationwide to ensure that Nigeria remains ready to rapidly detect, investigate, contain, and respond to any potential outbreak,” Idris stated.
He revealed that a national vulnerability analysis and dynamic risk assessment had already been completed to guide interventions and improve preparedness efforts across the country.
The NCDC boss stressed that early detection and prompt reporting remain Nigeria’s strongest defence against Ebola, warning that delays in identifying suspected cases could increase the risk of transmission.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with state governments, healthcare institutions, international partners, and global health organisations to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging infectious disease threats.
Ebola Virus Disease remains one of the deadliest viral infections in the world, spreading primarily through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected persons. Since its discovery, the disease has caused multiple outbreaks across Africa and has claimed more than 15,000 lives over the past five decades.
The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, described as the country’s seventeenth Ebola outbreak, has already recorded 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths spread across three provinces. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also reported 116 suspected cases linked to the outbreak.
In neighbouring Uganda, health authorities have confirmed 15 cases, including one death, raising concerns about the potential spread of the virus across borders and through international travel routes.
Adding to the concern, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed that one of the confirmed cases involved a Congolese national who reportedly travelled through the United Arab Emirates before entering Uganda, highlighting the global mobility risks associated with infectious disease outbreaks.
As fears grow over the possibility of international transmission, health authorities are urging Nigerians, particularly travellers and residents with links to affected countries, to remain vigilant, observe public health guidelines, and immediately report any suspected symptoms to health facilities.
For now, Nigeria remains Ebola-free, but health officials insist that vigilance, preparedness, and rapid response will determine whether the country can prevent another public health emergency similar to previous outbreaks that tested the nation’s health system.