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Mujeeb Akindoyin
Nigeria has stepped up surveillance and preparedness measures and placed the country on high alert following the continued spread of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak has so far claimed the lives of 3,699 people.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed the developments in an interim public health advisory signed by its director general, Dr. Jide Idris, following a re-assessment of the epidemiological situation in the DRC and consultations with public health experts and the federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The latest data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control showed that the DRC had recorded 7,672 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,699 related deaths as of September 20, based on data available up to September 19.
ECDC said the latest reporting period alone accounted for 58 new confirmed cases and 23 deaths, while 197 new confirmed cases and 94 deaths had been recorded since the previous report on September 18.
The development has renewed concerns about the possibility of imported infections in countries with substantial regional and international links, including Nigeria.
NCDC strengthens surveillance
According to the NCDC, Nigeria’s enhanced measures are designed to promptly detect any potential imported cases and prevent their transmission.
The agency said its preparedness activities are ongoing and will be continually reviewed as the epidemiological situation changes.
The NCDC has also introduced enhanced monitoring of travelers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission.
Such travelers may be required to complete a health declaration form, while passengers arriving from other countries are currently exempt from the requirement.
NCDC’s online health declaration system captures travellers’ personal information, travel history, countries visited in the previous 21 days and relevant health information. The system also provides post-arrival monitoring where required.
The agency urged Nigerians and travelers to remain vigilant and promptly seek medical attention if they develop symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly where there is a history of travel to an affected area or possible exposure.
ECDC reported that Ituri province remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 5,913 confirmed cases and 2,703 deaths recorded in 28 of 36 health zones.
The latest 58 cases were recorded in four provinces: Ituri, 38; North Kivu, 14; Haut-Uélé, five; and Tshopo, one.
ECDC also reported that 886 patients were admitted to hospital in isolation, while 1,879 people who tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus have recovered.
Approximately 79.9% of contacts identified in the affected provinces were also under follow-up.
The data highlights the ongoing challenge health authorities face in containing the epidemic, particularly in areas where access to healthcare and disease surveillance is difficult.
Unlike some previous Ebola epidemics, the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of orthoebolavirus.
ECDC said there are currently no authorized vaccines or specific treatments for the disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, making early detection, isolation, contact tracing and infection prevention measures particularly important.
The agency said the virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person or animal. According to current guidelines, it does not spread through the air or through casual contact. Symptoms can take anywhere from two to 21 days to appear.
Nigeria’s vulnerability
Nigeria’s public health authorities have previously identified several factors that could facilitate the importation of infectious diseases, including extensive international travel, population movements, large airports and seaports, land borders, and informal crossings.
The NCDC had previously assessed the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high in its May 2026 preparedness advisory, reflecting ongoing regional transmission and movement of people between affected and neighboring areas.
However, based on the latest available information, Nigeria has not reported any confirmed cases linked to the current outbreak in the DRC.
The immediate public health objective is therefore to ensure that any imported infection is detected quickly and local transmission is prevented from developing.
ECDC sends experts
The international response has also been intensified.
ECDC announced on 21 September the deployment of two epidemiologists to the DRC to strengthen surveillance and support the wider response to the outbreak.
The agency described the situation in the DRC as critical, but said its modeling indicates that the risk of importation into the European Union and the European Economic Area remains very low for the general population.
ECDC, however, stressed that the risk of importation depends on factors such as the size of the outbreak, travel patterns and the volume of travel from affected areas.
The NCDC urges vigilance
The NCDC said its response will continue to be guided by surveillance data, scientific evidence and ongoing public health risk assessments.
The agency urged Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant, particularly where there is a history of travel to an affected area or possible exposure.
It also advises anyone who develops symptoms consistent with Ebola to seek medical attention promptly and to provide healthcare providers with accurate information about recent travel and possible exposure.
For Nigeria, health authorities are tasked with maintaining vigilance at entry points while ensuring that suspected cases can be quickly identified, isolated, tested and managed if the virus is imported.
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