Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has classified the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported into Nigeria as high, citing ongoing outbreaks in parts of East Africa, increased international travel, population movement and porous borders.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this during a media briefing in Lagos, where he outlined the country’s preparedness efforts following reported Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
According to Idris, the assessment is based on a dynamic risk analysis conducted by the agency in response to the evolving public health situation within the region.
He noted that although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case, the possibility of delayed detection remains a concern because the symptoms of the disease are similar to those of other endemic illnesses such as malaria and Lassa fever.
The NCDC boss said the agency has intensified surveillance and preparedness activities nationwide to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.
“Since 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 of the disease,” Idris said.
“Some of the things we’ve done so far are the completion of a national dynamic risk assessment and vulnerability analysis to guide preparedness.”
He explained that several response measures have already been activated, including enhanced surveillance at points of entry, laboratory readiness, risk communication, case management preparedness and coordination with key stakeholders across the health sector.
Idris urged state governments to strengthen their preparedness plans and ensure emergency response mechanisms are fully operational.
He also called on healthcare workers and frontline personnel across the country to maintain a high index of suspicion when attending to patients with symptoms that may be consistent with Ebola infection.
The NCDC Director-General stressed the importance of early detection and prompt reporting of suspected cases, noting that vigilance across all levels of the healthcare system remains critical to preventing a potential outbreak.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working closely with state governments, healthcare institutions and international partners to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacity against emerging infectious diseases.
Ebola, a highly infectious disease transmitted through close contact with infected persons and bodily fluids, has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo—the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak—has recorded 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths across three provinces. The UN health agency has also documented 116 suspected cases.
In neighbouring Uganda, 15 Ebola cases, including one death, have been reported. The cases include a Congolese national who entered the country after travelling through the United Arab Emirates.
