Ebola: NCDC activates emergency surveillance

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By Joseph Erunke

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has heightened nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following the resurgence of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, and a confirmed imported case in neighbouring Uganda.

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Although Nigeria has no confirmed Ebola case at the moment, the NCDC warned that increasing cross-border movements within the region have placed the country on high alert, prompting intensified monitoring at ports of entry and across the public health system.

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In a public health advisory issued on Saturday and signed by the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, the agency said it was working closely with the Port Health Service of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, alongside other stakeholders, to prevent any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.

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The agency disclosed that response efforts are already underway in affected areas of DRC and Uganda, where authorities have activated emergency measures including enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control protocols, case management, contact tracing, and aggressive public awareness campaigns.

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Describing Ebola as a severe and highly infectious viral disease, the NCDC explained that the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals.

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According to the agency, symptoms of the disease include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.

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To forestall any outbreak in Nigeria, the NCDC said it has intensified event-based surveillance nationwide, strengthened laboratory readiness, reinforced infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities, and stepped up risk communication and community engagement activities.

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“We continue to maintain surveillance systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases while closely monitoring regional and global developments,” the agency stated.

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The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation, stressing that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in the country.

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It advised citizens to maintain strict hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, stay away from dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, and promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.

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Healthcare workers were also directed to maintain a high level of vigilance by promptly identifying and isolating suspected cases, using appropriate personal protective equipment, observing hand hygiene, and immediately reporting suspected infections through official channels.

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The agency assured Nigerians that it would continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.

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