… warns of importation risk as states activate preparedness measures amid regional spread in Africa
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and several other states on high alert following an outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease in parts of East and Central Africa.
In a national public health advisory issued to state health commissioners, the agency warned that Nigeria faces a significant risk of importing the virus due to increased regional transmission, international travel, porous borders, and population movement.
States classified as high-risk include Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa, owing to their international airports, seaports, and high human traffic.
The advisory, dated May 27, 2026, noted that while Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case, the risk of importation remains high following a dynamic risk assessment after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern.
According to the NCDC, more than 1,000 suspected cases and hundreds of deaths have been reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a fatality rate of 24.6 per cent. It added that suspected cases have also been reported in other countries, prompting global concern and travel restrictions in some regions.
The agency warned that the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more common Zaire Ebola strain, for which approved vaccines and treatments exist, stressing that there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics for the variant.
“The current Bundibugyo virus outbreak has no licensed vaccines or approved targeted therapeutics,” the advisory stated.
The NCDC also cautioned that early symptoms of Ebola can resemble malaria, Lassa fever, and other common illnesses, making early detection difficult, and urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion in relevant cases.
As part of preparedness measures, the agency said its Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in alert mode, while states have been directed to strengthen surveillance, activate isolation centres, equip health workers with protective gear, and intensify public awareness campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has assured residents that no suspected or confirmed cases have been recorded in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said Lagos remains fully prepared and is closely monitoring developments in line with directives from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He added that the state’s biosecurity system, which was strengthened after past outbreaks including Ebola in 2014 and COVID-19, remains active and capable of rapid response.
The renewed alert has revived memories of Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when swift contact tracing, isolation, and coordinated public health measures helped stop the spread within months.
Health authorities are urging Nigerians to remain calm, observe hygiene practices, avoid misinformation, and promptly report any suspected symptoms as surveillance efforts intensify nationwide.