By Mokobia Rita.
ABUJA/Nigeria: Fresh concerns over a possible Ebola outbreak have emerged in Nigeria after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) warned that the country faces a “high risk” of importing the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) amid escalating outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa. Recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda have heightened regional fears, with health authorities intensifying cross-border surveillance efforts.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola, the NCDC said increased international travel, cross-border movement and continued transmission in affected countries have raised concerns over the possibility of the virus entering the country.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed that the agency’s latest risk assessment identified Nigeria as vulnerable because of its extensive travel networks and regional connectivity.
According to the agency, the danger is further complicated by the challenge of early diagnosis, as Ebola symptoms often mimic those of common diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever, both of which are already widespread across several African countries.
“The current epidemiological situation in affected countries, combined with population mobility and uncertainty surrounding the scale of transmission, increases the possibility of cross-border spread,” the NCDC stated.
To strengthen preparedness, the agency said it has activated a series of emergency measures aimed at preventing any potential outbreak within Nigeria.
The interventions include intensified surveillance at international entry points, improved laboratory preparedness, public sensitisation campaigns and the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on alert mode. High-risk states, border communities and major transport hubs are also under enhanced monitoring.
Health authorities in the affected regions of the DRC and Uganda are simultaneously scaling up contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention measures and community awareness campaigns as efforts continue to contain the outbreak. Uganda has already confirmed new cases linked to the regional spread, while health agencies continue aggressive surveillance and response operations.
Nigeria’s previous success in containing the Ebola outbreak in 2014 is also being viewed as a major advantage in the current preparedness efforts, with response systems and rapid intervention mechanisms already in place. Rapid response teams have reportedly been placed on standby nationwide, while laboratories around international airports and border corridors have been strengthened for early detection of viral haemorrhagic diseases.
Beyond disease surveillance, health authorities are also battling misinformation and panic, warning against the spread of false claims capable of undermining public health interventions.
Medical experts have repeatedly emphasised that early reporting, prompt detection and strict hygiene practices remain critical in preventing the spread of Ebola, a disease known for its severe symptoms and high fatality rate when not quickly contained.
While anxiety continues to rise across parts of the region, the NCDC maintains that there is no cause for panic but insists that vigilance is now more important than ever.
For now, Nigeria remains on alert — mindful that in an increasingly interconnected world, a distant outbreak can rapidly become a domestic emergency.
