The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Kano, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and seven other states on high alert following the rising outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a nationwide advisory issued on Thursday, the agency warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable to a possible importation of the virus due to increased international travel, cross-border movement and porous borders.
Other states listed as high risk include Rivers, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa, while Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi and Plateau were classified as moderate-risk states.
The alert followed the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Although no case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the NCDC directed all states to immediately strengthen surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.
According to the agency, the outbreak in Uganda and the DRC has recorded more than 1,000 suspected infections and 247 deaths, with mostly young and middle-aged persons affected.
The NCDC noted that, unlike some other Ebola variants, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, making early detection and rapid containment critical.
It explained that the disease spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, contaminated materials or infected animals, and not through the air.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and unexplained bleeding.
The agency disclosed that its Emergency Operations Centre had been placed on alert mode and directed states to submit readiness reports within 72 hours while immediately reporting any suspected cases.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, urged authorities to act proactively before any case is detected, stressing that Nigeria’s previous success in containing Ebola was achieved through swift response, strict infection control and public cooperation.
