Nigeria raises surveillance as Ebola resurfaces in DR Congo, Uganda
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures nationwide following renewed Ebola virus disease outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a confirmed imported case in Uganda linked to the outbreak.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease in the country.
He explained that while response activities are ongoing in the affected countries, Nigeria’s public health authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Health authorities, supported by international partners, have activated emergency public health measures to contain the spread of the disease.
According to him, these measures include enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control protocols, case management, contact tracing and risk communication activities.
Dr Idris said the NCDC was working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to strengthen preparedness within Nigeria’s public health system.
“NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including Port Health Services, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” he said.
The NCDC boss described Ebola virus disease as a severe viral illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, secretions or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals.
He noted that the disease has an incubation period of two to 21 days, while symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
Dr Idris said the agency had continued to maintain surveillance systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases while strengthening risk communication and community engagement nationwide.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid circulating misinformation about the disease.
“Members of the public should remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation,” he said.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, and promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.
The agency also urged citizens to rely only on updates from official public health authorities.
Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola, especially in patients presenting symptoms compatible with the disease alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
Dr Idris stressed the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including early identification and isolation of suspected cases, proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and prompt reporting through established channels.
He added that the NCDC would continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
Nigeria gained international recognition for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
Through rapid emergency response measures, aggressive contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions, the outbreak was contained within months.
The experience led to significant investments in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and laboratory capacity by the NCDC and the Federal Government, positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading countries in epidemic response coordination.
