LAGOS/Nigeria: Persistent Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa continue to expose major weaknesses in disease surveillance, research and emergency response systems, with a Nigerian public health expert warning that unless the gaps are addressed, countries will remain vulnerable to future epidemics.
The warning comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had recorded 2,124 confirmed Ebola cases, including 828 deaths, as of July 15, underscoring the continued threat posed by the virus across the region.
Prof. Bamidele Iwalokun, Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), identified inadequate disease surveillance, limited scientific research, poor community engagement and insufficient investment in vaccine development as major factors prolonging Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda.
Speaking during an Ebola Disease Update webinar organised by Preventive Health Nigeria Advocacy Operations Ltd., Iwalokun said weak genomic surveillance has hampered efforts to track the evolution of the virus and respond effectively to emerging outbreaks.
He noted that researchers still have limited knowledge of the Bundibugyo strain and other non-Zaire Ebola virus species, a situation that has slowed the development of accurate diagnostic tools, effective treatments and vaccines.
According to him, the absence of reliable early warning systems and coordinated public health intelligence has also made it difficult to predict outbreaks and contain infections before they spread widely.
Iwalokun said cultural practices and delayed reporting of suspected cases remain significant obstacles to controlling the disease, explaining that many infected persons seek medical attention only after the virus has progressed to advanced stages, increasing the risk of transmission.
He called for stronger community-based surveillance, wider deployment of rapid diagnostic technologies and greater investment in research to support the development of affordable point-of-care testing that can be used in remote communities.
The researcher also advocated sustained public education on the safe handling and burial of Ebola victims, saying traditional burial practices continue to complicate containment efforts in affected countries.
Also speaking during the webinar, Dr. Linus Ndegwa, an epidemiologist with the Kenya Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, dismissed common misconceptions surrounding Ebola transmission.
He explained that Ebola is not airborne and cannot be spread through mosquitoes, ticks or other insects, stressing that infection occurs only through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person.
Ndegwa said healthcare workers, family caregivers and those involved in handling the bodies of Ebola victims face the greatest risk where infection prevention measures are not strictly observed, adding that accurate public information remains essential to reducing fear, stigma and misinformation.
Earlier, the convener of the webinar, Mr. Adekola Wojuola, urged Nigerians not to become complacent despite the country’s success in containing previous Ebola outbreaks.
“Nigeria is dealing with many challenges and cannot afford an Ebola outbreak. We must take the message to our communities to ensure the country remains Ebola-free,” he said.
Nigeria was internationally commended for successfully containing the Ebola outbreak that entered the country in 2014 through aggressive contact tracing, public awareness campaigns and coordinated emergency response. However, public health experts have continued to caution that increased cross-border movement and regional outbreaks make sustained vigilance essential to preventing a resurgence of the disease.
