The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease has been detected in the country despite concerns over the ongoing outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain in Central Africa.
In a statement issued on Sunday, May 17, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, said the agency was closely monitoring the situation following the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and a recently confirmed imported case in Uganda linked to the outbreak.
According to the agency, health authorities in both DR Congo and Uganda have activated emergency response measures, including intensified surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and public awareness campaigns aimed at containing the spread of the disease.
The NCDC stated that Nigeria has also heightened its preparedness efforts in view of increased movement across African borders.
“Due to increasing regional movement across countries, NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Service under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” the statement read.
The agency disclosed that it is strengthening event-based surveillance systems, improving laboratory readiness, reinforcing infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities and expanding community engagement activities across the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier warned that the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more common Ebola-Zaire variant because there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments developed for it.
As of May 16, health authorities reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths across several health zones in Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation and maintain proper hygiene practices, especially regular handwashing.
It also advised residents to avoid contact with bodily fluids of infected persons as well as dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources.
Healthcare workers were encouraged to maintain a high level of suspicion for patients showing symptoms associated with Ebola, particularly those with relevant travel history, while strictly observing infection prevention and control protocols.
The agency further urged Nigerians to promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility and rely only on information provided by official public health authorities.