ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has placed Nigeria on high alert and intensified preparedness measures following the continued spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in a public health advisory signed by its Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said it was closely monitoring the outbreak and had activated precautionary measures to protect Nigerians from any potential importation of the disease.
The advisory followed a dynamic risk assessment by the NCDC, consultations with public health experts and engagement with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, reports Channels TV.
According to the Centre, all preparatory activities are ongoing and will continue to be reviewed in line with the evolving epidemiological situation and public health risk assessment.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, particularly for symptoms consistent with Ebola, and to promptly seek medical attention where necessary.
It also advised travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission to complete the Health Declaration Form as part of enhanced public health surveillance and follow-up measures.
“Passengers from all other countries are exempted from completing the form at this time,” the Centre said.
The NCDC stressed that the measures were precautionary and aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to detect and respond rapidly to any suspected case.
The latest development comes as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to record new infections and deaths.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the DRC reported 7,672 confirmed cases and 3,699 related deaths as of September 20, based on data up to September 19.
A total of 886 patients were hospitalised in isolation, while 58 new confirmed cases and 23 deaths had been recorded since the previous report.
The new cases were reported in Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces, with Ituri remaining the worst-affected area.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of orthoebolavirus. ECDC said the outbreak has remained a serious public health concern, with the number of cases continuing to rise and the disease spreading geographically.
As of the latest ECDC update, 1,879 people who tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus had recovered, while 79.9 per cent of identified contacts in the affected provinces were under follow-up.
The NCDC reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians through evidence-based surveillance, preparedness and rapid response to public health threats.
Nigeria previously contained an imported Ebola case in 2014 through early detection, contact tracing, isolation and coordinated public health measures. The NCDC had also earlier assessed Nigeria’s risk of Ebola importation as high because of regional transmission, international travel, population movement and the country’s extensive air, sea and land connections.
