Nigeria has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness efforts following fears of a possible Ebola Virus Disease outbreak linked to rising cases in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, the NCDC stated that no confirmed Ebola case had been recorded in Nigeria but warned that the country remains at high risk because of increased international travel and population movement from affected East African countries.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, said border communities, transport hubs and international entry points had been identified as high-risk areas requiring enhanced monitoring. According to the advisory, the National Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert mode, while the National Incident Management System has also been activated to coordinate response efforts across the country.
The NCDC added that Rapid Response Teams and epidemiologists had been placed on standby for immediate deployment if suspected cases emerge in any state. Surveillance activities have also been intensified nationwide, especially at airports and border communities, to ensure early detection of possible infections.
As part of preparedness measures, the agency said healthcare facilities had received Ebola preparedness checklists and infection prevention materials, while health workers were undergoing refresher training on case identification, triage and infection control protocols.
The NCDC also disclosed plans to preposition emergency supplies, including personal protective equipment and laboratory consumables, in strategic locations across the country.
It noted that Nigeria currently has laboratory testing capacity for Ebola in states with international points of entry and within the national public health laboratory network..
The renewed alert follows reports of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving the Bundibugyo strain, which has spread to Uganda.
Health officials in the region have recorded hundreds of suspected cases and over 100 deaths.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation and report suspected symptoms promptly to health authorities.
The agency also warned against relying on unverified home remedies or conspiracy theories about the disease.
NCDC intensifies surveillance against Ebola
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