NCDC Raises Ebola Alert in Nigeria Over Outbreaks in DR Congo, Uganda

Nigeria’s health authorities have raised fresh concerns over the possible importation of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into the country following ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Although no confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the increasing movement of people across borders and growing regional transmission have significantly heightened the risk level.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, disclosed that the agency’s latest assessment classified the threat of Ebola entering Nigeria as “high.”

“This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever,” the statement said.

The agency explained that several Nigerian states are considered vulnerable because of their proximity to international borders, busy transport routes, and major entry points into the country.

Health officials also confirmed that Uganda recently reported an imported Ebola case linked to the outbreak in DR Congo, increasing fears that the virus could spread further across the region if strict surveillance measures are not maintained.

To strengthen preparedness, the NCDC said Nigeria’s national Emergency Operations Centre has already been placed on alert mode, while the country’s incident management system has been activated to improve coordination and emergency response capacity.

The agency noted that Nigeria still retains important structures and expertise developed during previous Ebola outbreaks and other viral haemorrhagic disease responses.

According to the NCDC, trained rapid response teams, functional laboratories, and emergency operations centres remain on standby for immediate deployment if any suspected case is detected anywhere in the country.

“Epidemiologists and rapid response teams are also on alert for rapid deployment to any affected state if required,” the agency stated.

The NCDC further revealed that laboratories located around international entry points have been placed on heightened surveillance, while systems for sample collection and transportation are being strengthened to ensure quick diagnosis of suspected infections.

At the same time, the public health agency said it has intensified efforts to combat misinformation and panic surrounding Ebola by increasing awareness campaigns and monitoring false claims circulating online.

The agency added that it is collaborating with healthcare workers, media organisations, community leaders, and digital platforms to promote verified public health information and discourage the spread of misleading reports.