The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed airlines, airport operators, and other aviation stakeholders to strengthen public health surveillance measures following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a circular dated May 18, 2026, the NCAA said the directive became necessary due to concerns over the possible spread of the disease and the aviation sector’s role in preventing cross-border transmission.
The authority stated that although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case linked to the outbreak, it is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Port Health Services, and international health organisations to monitor developments.
According to the NCAA, health authorities in the DRC recently detected a cluster of severe illnesses among healthcare workers in the Bunia Health Zone in the country’s northeastern region.
Laboratory investigations later confirmed the outbreak to be caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of the Ebola virus family associated with severe viral haemorrhagic disease in humans.
The authority noted that there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain, while treatment remains largely supportive and focused on managing symptoms.
The NCAA listed symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease to include sudden fever, severe fatigue, persistent headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bleeding symptoms such as nosebleeds or vomiting blood.
It stressed that early detection and prompt reporting are essential to preventing the international spread of the disease.
As part of precautionary measures, the authority said surveillance systems at airports have been strengthened, while contact tracing procedures, case reporting mechanisms, and border health screening operations are also being reinforced.
The NCAA further directed pilots to report any suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft to Air Traffic Control in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Flight crew members were also instructed to complete and submit Aircraft General Declaration forms for all suspected cases, while airlines were mandated to ensure passenger locator forms are completed and handed over to Port Health Services on arrival.
In addition, the authority directed airlines to ensure aircraft are adequately equipped with first aid kits, universal precaution kits, and emergency medical supplies.
The NCAA also urged operators to strengthen crew training on identifying and managing communicable diseases and maintain strict compliance with infection prevention and control guidelines.
The authority called on all aviation stakeholders to remain vigilant and fully comply with established public health protocols to protect passengers, crew members, and the general public from potential health threats.
