Anxiety is spreading across Nigeria after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention raised a high Ebola preparedness alert in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and several other states.
The warning has triggered concern among residents, health workers and travelers. Many Nigerians are now asking whether the country is fully prepared to stop another deadly outbreak before it crosses the border.
According to the NCDC, the risk of importing the dangerous Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria is now considered high. Consequently, emergency preparedness measures have been intensified across key states and border locations.
The agency listed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa among states facing the highest exposure risk.
The alert followed worsening outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moreover, the World Health Organisation recently classified the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Health authorities revealed that more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and 247 deaths have already been recorded in affected countries. The development has therefore raised fears of possible cross-border transmission into Nigeria.
In its advisory to state commissioners for health, the NCDC stressed the need for immediate action nationwide.
“The overall risk of importation of the disease into Nigeria has been assessed as high due to increasing ongoing regional transmission, international travel, regional population movement, major airports, seaports, porous land borders, informal crossings and trade routes,” the agency stated.
The NCDC explained that every state must immediately strengthen surveillance systems, isolation centres and laboratory readiness. In addition, healthcare workers have been urged to remain highly vigilant.
“The immediate objective of our national preparedness and readiness efforts is to ensure that every state and the FCT can reasonably detect, contain and respond swiftly to any suspected case while protecting health workers and sustaining essential health services,” the advisory noted.
Meanwhile, the agency warned that the current Ebola strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Existing Ebola vaccines were mainly developed for the Zaire Ebola Virus strain.
Health experts said this makes early detection and quick response extremely important. Furthermore, authorities warned that Ebola symptoms can easily resemble malaria or Lassa fever during the early stages.
The NCDC also reminded Nigerians that Ebola is not airborne. However, the disease spreads through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids or contaminated surfaces.
“Health workers must not wait for bleeding before suspecting Ebola in any patient with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure history,” the advisory warned.
Common symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Severe cases may also involve bleeding, bruising and shock.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Operations Centre has already been activated in alert mode.
State governments were also directed to improve contact tracing systems and healthcare worker protection measures. In addition, public and private hospitals have been advised to prepare isolation facilities immediately.
The agency said preparedness remains Nigeria’s strongest defence against a possible outbreak. Therefore, health officials are encouraging residents to report suspicious symptoms quickly.
Although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria.
