By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa as high-risk states for Ebola importation, following outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
In a public advisory issued on Thursday in Abuja, NCDC Director-General Jide Idris highlighted international travel, regional population movements, porous borders, and uncertainties about the outbreak as key factors driving the risk.
Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abia, and Bayelsa were classified as moderate-risk states. Idris stressed that while all states must maintain Ebola preparedness, the speed and intensity of readiness should align with the assessed risk.
According to the NCDC, the DRC and Uganda have reported 1,077 suspected Ebola cases and 247 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 24.6 percent. The outbreak primarily affects individuals aged 14 to 45, and regional and international risks remain high.
Idris noted that suspected cases have also emerged in India, while Canada has temporarily suspended travel applications from residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Uganda has closed some of its borders in response to the outbreak.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola currently circulating has no approved vaccines or targeted treatments. Existing Ebola vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies are effective only against the Zaire strain and should not be relied upon for protection against Bundibugyo, Idris said.
He urged states to prioritize early detection, isolation of suspected and confirmed cases, infection control, contact tracing, safe burial practices, and community engagement. Supportive care, including treatment for co-infections and symptom management in isolation centres, remains critical.
The NCDC has placed its National Emergency Operations Centre on alert to coordinate preparedness with federal and state authorities. State health commissioners have been instructed to ensure readiness at public and private health facilities, activate coordination structures, conduct rapid risk assessments, and establish at least one functional isolation facility with clear referral pathways.
At the time of the advisory, Nigeria had not reported any confirmed cases, but the NCDC warned that the risk of Ebola importation remains high due to porous borders, major trade routes, and the similarity of early Ebola symptoms to malaria and Lassa fever.
