NCDC issues fresh Ebola alert in Lagos and other states amid fears of cross-border transmission from East and Central Africa

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and several other states on high alert following the outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease in parts of East and Central Africa.

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The agency issued the nationwide public health advisory to state Commissioners for Health on Tuesday, warning that Nigeria faces an elevated risk of importing the virus because of increasing regional transmission, cross-border movement and international travel.

The advisory, dated May 27, stressed that although no confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, health authorities must intensify surveillance and emergency preparedness measures immediately.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency had activated heightened monitoring systems at points of entry, including airports and border communities considered vulnerable to transmission.

Dr Idris explained that the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating in affected countries presents a serious public health concern because of its high fatality rate and the speed at which outbreaks can spread across borders.

The NCDC directed states to strengthen case detection, isolation procedures and infection prevention protocols in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

The agency also urged health workers to remain vigilant for symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding, especially among travellers arriving from affected regions.

As part of the emergency response, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has begun coordination with port health authorities, immigration officials and international health partners to reinforce screening and rapid response systems.

A senior health official familiar with the advisory said the renewed Ebola alert in Lagos reflects the city’s status as a major international gateway with heavy passenger traffic across Africa and beyond.

The official added that emergency preparedness teams have been instructed to review isolation centres, stockpile protective equipment and ensure laboratories are ready for rapid testing if suspected cases emerge.

Public health experts described the move as a decisive and preventive step aimed at avoiding a repeat of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which claimed lives in West Africa before Nigeria successfully contained the virus through aggressive tracing and containment measures.

The NCDC advised members of the public to maintain proper hygiene practices and promptly report suspected symptoms to the nearest health facility.

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Health authorities also appealed against panic, insisting that early detection and swift intervention remain the country’s strongest defence against any possible outbreak.