Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on high-risk alert following the outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a public health advisory signed by the Director General NCDC Dr Jide Idris and issued to Commissioners for Health in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the agency warned that Nigeria faces a high risk of importing the disease due to increasing regional transmission, international travel, porous borders, and active trade routes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).According to the NCDC, although no confirmed case has been recorded in Nigeria, all states must immediately strengthen preparedness and response measures to prevent a possible outbreak.
It noted that there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, making early detection and rapid public health response critical.
States were directed to intensify surveillance, activate emergency coordination structures, identify isolation facilities, strengthen infection prevention measures, and ensure frontline health workers are properly trained and protected.
The agency also classified states into risk categories, placing Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa under high-risk areas due to international travel routes and border activities.
The agency disclosed that 1,077 suspected cases and 247 deaths have so far been reported in Uganda and the DRC, with a fatality rate of 24.6 percent.The NCDC said its National Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in alert mode to coordinate nationwide preparedness efforts.
It equally explained that Ebola is not airborne but spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and unexplained bleeding.Consequently, health workers were advised to immediately isolate and report any suspected case, especially patients with recent travel history to affected countries within the last 21 days.
The agency urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading rumours, and seek verified health information through official channels.It added that Nigeria’s successful containment of previous Ebola outbreaks was achieved through early detection, rapid response, contact tracing, and public cooperation.“The window for preparedness is before the first suspected case is reported,” the NCDC stated.