Nigeria on high alert over Ebola outbreak as NCDC urges preparation of emergency facilities

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness in the event of a fresh Ebola disease outbreak in the country following the growing outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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In a fresh public health advisory issued by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, on Sunday, the agency said Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case linked to the ongoing regional outbreak but warned that the risk of importation remains high because of international travel, population movement, and the scale of transmission in affected East African countries.

He also said that the alert became necessary due to the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever.

The agency said its latest risk assessment identified border communities, major transport hubs, and international points of entry as high-risk areas requiring enhanced 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 said 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 pathways to coordinate response activities nationwide.

According to the agency, epidemiologists and Rapid Response Teams have also been placed on standby for possible deployment to any state if required.

The public health agency disclosed that it is strengthening coordination with state Ministries of Health, Port Health Services, and other relevant government agencies as part of efforts to improve national readiness.

The agency further stated that surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities have been intensified across the country, including enhanced 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.