NCDC Places Nigeria on Alert Over Possible Ebola Importation

By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Nigeria on alert over possible importation of Ebola transmission outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement as well as the uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak.

NCDC placed Nigeria as a high risk country following the agency’s assessment which estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria to be high, also identified high-risk states, border communities, major transport hubs, and Points of Entry (PoEs).

According to a public health advisory issued on Sunday in Abuja, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris noted that NCDC is intensifying it’s national coordination activities to strengthen Ebola preparedness and rapid response capacity across the country, while the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is on the alert mode for heightened preparedness.

Dr. Jide noted that although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from the current regional outbreak presently, in view of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declaration by the WHO, and the rising no of cases in DRC and Uganda, our surveillance and preparedness activities continue across the country.

Idris observed that NCDC has intensified event-based surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities across the country, including enhanced monitoring of alerts, rumours, and unusual public health events to support early detection, reporting, and response activities.

He urged travellers arriving from countries with confirmed Ebola cases to monitor their health for 21 days and immediately report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting or unexplained bleeding.

Idris also called on Healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and strictly comply with infection prevention protocols, including proper use of PPE and immediate isolation of suspected cases.

He highlighted other measures taken by the agency to include coordination with State Epidemiologists, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), surveillance teams, and healthcare facilities continues nationwide to strengthen preparedness and ensure timely detection and reporting of suspected cases.

Idris disclosed that the National Incident Management System (IMS) has been activated with, clearly defined coordination, reporting, and escalation pathways while NCDC and partners are also mapping and preparing for prepositioning of critical response commodities, including PPES, IPC supplies, body bags, laboratory consumables, and emergency medical supplies in strategic locations.

According to him, Nigeria still maintains existing laboratory testing capability in States with international Ports of Entry (PoE) amid public health laboratory network, with surge capacity and optimization for Ebola Virus Disease testing available if required.