The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following the growing outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The agency said Nigeria had not recorded any confirmed case linked to the ongoing regional outbreak but warned that the risk of importation remained high due to international travel, population movement and the scale of transmission in affected East African countries.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the alert was contained in a fresh public health advisory issued by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
According to the advisory, the latest risk assessment by the agency identified border communities, major transport hubs and international points of entry as areas requiring closer monitoring.
The NCDC said the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria was considered high because of ongoing transmission in Uganda and the DRC, as well as the movement of people across borders.
The advisory stated, “This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever.”
The agency noted that the similarity between early Ebola symptoms and other common diseases in Nigeria could delay detection if health workers and members of the public were not alert.
Emergency Centre Placed On Alert
The NCDC said the National Emergency Operations Centre had been placed on alert mode as part of measures to strengthen national readiness.
It also disclosed that the National Incident Management System had been activated with clear reporting and escalation pathways to coordinate response activities across the country.
According to the agency, epidemiologists and Rapid Response Teams have also been placed on standby for possible deployment to any state where suspected cases may be reported.
The NCDC said it was working closely with state Ministries of Health, Port Health Services and other relevant government agencies to strengthen preparedness and response capacity.
The public health agency said surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities had been intensified nationwide.
It explained that unusual public health events, rumours and alerts were being monitored to ensure early detection of suspected cases.
The advisory added, “Enhanced surveillance activities are also ongoing at points of entry and border communities.”
The agency said particular attention was being paid to international points of entry and communities close to borders because of the risk posed by cross-border movement.
As part of infection prevention efforts, the NCDC said Ebola preparedness tools and checklists had been distributed to healthcare facilities across the country.
The agency added that refresher trainings were ongoing for health workers on triage systems, infection prevention protocols and early identification of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.
States have also been advised to designate isolation and treatment centres, assess bed capacity, strengthen logistics systems and ensure the availability of emergency medical supplies.
The NCDC said plans were underway to preposition critical response materials in strategic locations across the country.
The items include personal protective equipment, body bags, laboratory consumables and other emergency supplies.
On laboratory preparedness, the NCDC said Nigeria currently has Ebola testing capability in states with international ports of entry and within the national public health laboratory network.
It added that surge capacity for Ebola testing would be available if required.
The agency also said it had intensified public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation and false claims about the disease.
According to the NCDC, “Ebola Myths and Facts” materials had been developed to help members of the public understand the disease and avoid panic.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, secretions or contaminated materials.
Symptoms may include fever, weakness, headache and muscle pain.
Health experts have repeatedly said the disease does not spread through the air.
The NCDC urged members of the public to rely on verified information from health authorities and avoid spreading rumours that could undermine response efforts.
Nigeria’s latest alert has revived memories of the country’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 after an infected Liberian-American diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
The outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths before health authorities halted further transmission through aggressive contact tracing, isolation measures and public awareness campaigns.
Nigeria’s response at the time was widely praised by the World Health Organisation and has since been regarded as one of Africa’s most effective epidemic containment efforts.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the current concern follows renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa, particularly Uganda and the DRC, where health authorities continue to battle recurring viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.
Public health experts have warned that increased global travel and porous borders continue to pose risks to countries across Africa, including Nigeria, despite improved disease surveillance systems established after previous outbreaks of Ebola, COVID-19, monkeypox and Lassa fever.