The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has intensified surveillance and emergency response measures after the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported an Ebola outbreak and Uganda confirmed an imported case. In a public‑health advisory signed by NCDC Director‑General Dr Jide Idris, officials said they are closely monitoring the situation in the affected countries and coordinating preparedness activities with port health services and other stakeholders.
Dr Idris stressed that response operations continue in the outbreak zones and that Nigeria’s public‑health system remains on high alert. The agency has activated a series of preparedness steps, including strengthening nationwide surveillance for Ebola and other epidemic‑prone diseases, expanding event‑based monitoring, and enhancing coordination with state health authorities.
Laboratory and diagnostic capacities have been upgraded to ensure rapid testing, while infection‑prevention and control protocols are being reinforced in health‑care facilities. Community engagement programmes and public risk‑communication campaigns have also been broadened to improve awareness and preparedness at the grassroots level.
The NCDC is tracking global and regional developments closely to enable a swift response should the epidemiological situation change. Ebola Virus Disease, a severe and often fatal infection, spreads through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of infected people or animals. The disease has an incubation period of two to 21 days, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and rapid isolation of suspected cases.
By bolstering surveillance, laboratory readiness, and public communication, Nigeria aims to prevent any potential importation of Ebola and to safeguard its population against future outbreaks. The agency will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
