The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and eight other states on heightened Ebola surveillance following renewed outbreaks of the virus in parts of East and Central Africa.
The advisory comes amid concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease, which has been confirmed in some African countries and is now raising global public health concern due to its severity and transmission patterns.
In a national alert circulated to state commissioners for health and relevant stakeholders, the NCDC warned that Nigeria remains at significant risk of importation of the virus due to heavy cross-border movement, international travel routes, and porous entry points.
The agency noted that the current regional situation necessitates urgent preparedness across all levels of the health system, especially in states with major international airports, seaports, and high population mobility.
According to the classification provided by the NCDC, the high-risk states include Lagos, FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa.
The agency explained that these states were selected based on their strategic position as international entry corridors and their population density, which could accelerate transmission in the event of an outbreak.
The NCDC further stated that its preparedness strategy is aimed at ensuring that all states are capable of early detection, rapid response, and effective containment of any suspected Ebola case, while maintaining essential healthcare services.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola linked to the current outbreak, the agency said ongoing risk assessments indicate a high likelihood of importation if vigilance is not sustained.
Preliminary surveillance data from affected countries indicate that over 1,000 suspected cases and nearly 250 deaths have been reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a case fatality rate estimated at 24.6 percent.
The agency also expressed concern over reports of suspected international spread, including alerts from other regions where travel-related monitoring has been intensified.
It noted that the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more widely known Zaire strain of Ebola, particularly in terms of available medical countermeasures, as there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for this variant.
The NCDC warned that early symptoms of Ebola may closely resemble those of malaria, Lassa fever, and other endemic diseases, which could complicate early diagnosis if healthcare workers are not adequately alert.
Health workers, the agency emphasized, have been directed not to rule out Ebola in patients presenting with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure history, even in the absence of hemorrhagic signs.
As part of national preparedness measures, the NCDC confirmed that the National Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert mode to coordinate surveillance, response, and risk communication activities across the country.
State governments have also been directed to activate emergency response structures, strengthen surveillance systems, identify isolation centres, and ensure that frontline health workers are adequately protected with personal protective equipment.
In addition, states are expected to intensify public sensitisation campaigns aimed at reducing misinformation and preventing panic among the population.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has assured residents that there is currently no suspected or confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, gave the assurance while noting that Lagos remains on high alert due to its status as Nigeria’s primary international gateway.
He explained that the state is closely monitoring developments in affected countries in line with directives from the state government, stressing that surveillance systems have been strengthened to ensure early detection and rapid response if necessary.
Abayomi also referenced ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Immigration Service, which has reassured the public that Nigeria’s land borders are being closely monitored to prevent any potential entry of the virus.
According to him, Lagos maintains a robust and tested biosecurity system designed to manage high-risk infectious diseases, including Ebola, Lassa fever, cholera, and influenza.
He added that the state’s biosecurity framework, which was first tested during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, remains fully active and operational.
The commissioner noted that outbreak preparedness in Lagos has evolved into a permanent system rather than a reactive measure, allowing the state to respond swiftly to any public health threat.
He further stated that the state continues to engage in routine surveillance and response activities for recurrent outbreaks such as cholera, diphtheria, and Lassa fever.
Nigeria’s renewed alert has also revived memories of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, during which the country successfully contained the virus after it was introduced by a Liberian-American traveller, Patrick Sawyer, in Lagos.
Despite initial fears of widespread transmission, coordinated contact tracing, isolation protocols, and public health interventions helped Nigeria contain the outbreak within months.
The World Health Organisation later described Nigeria’s response as one of the most effective Ebola containment efforts globally.
Health authorities are now urging Nigerians to remain calm, adhere strictly to hygiene practices, avoid misinformation, and report suspected symptoms promptly as surveillance activities are intensified nationwide.
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