NCDC Places Nigeria on High Ebola Alert as DRC Outbreak Expands
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has placed the country on high alert for Ebola as authorities strengthen surveillance against possible importation of the disease.
The measure follows the continued spread of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
NCDC says preparedness activities are being strengthened and will be reviewed as the regional situation changes.
The alert does not mean Nigeria has recorded an Ebola outbreak.
The September 22 advisory does not report a confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria.
Travellers from affected countries face tighter screening
NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris said travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission may be required to complete Nigeria’s Health Declaration Form.
Passengers arriving from other countries are currently exempt under the interim advisory.
The measure is intended to strengthen surveillance and help authorities identify possible imported infections quickly.
NCDC has also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly where symptoms consistent with Ebola occur alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
DRC outbreak continues to expand
Nigeria’s heightened preparedness comes as the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to spread geographically.
WHO’s weekly situation report, using data up to September 20, recorded 7,733 confirmed cases and 3,732 confirmed deaths in the DRC.
The outbreak had affected 63 health zones.
Those figures are cumulative and may change as additional cases are confirmed and surveillance data are updated.
The regional outbreak has increased concern about international spread through travel and cross-border movement, making early detection an important part of preparedness in countries without confirmed cases.
High alert is not an outbreak declaration
Nigeria has maintained Ebola preparedness measures as the regional outbreak has developed.
NCDC’s latest advisory strengthens that posture through surveillance and targeted traveller-health measures.
It does not establish that Ebola has entered Nigeria.
A preparedness alert, a suspected case, a laboratory-confirmed infection and a declared outbreak are separate public-health statuses.
For Nigerians, the immediate consequence is heightened surveillance and additional health-declaration requirements for some international travellers.
For health authorities, the key test is whether surveillance, laboratory readiness and infection-control systems can identify and contain any imported infection before onward transmission occurs.
