NCDC Places Lagos, FCT, Eight Other States On High Ebola Alert Amid Spread In Africa
NCDC Places Lagos, FCT, Eight Other States On High Ebola Alert Amid Spread In Africa
High-risk states identified by the NCDC include Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and eight other states on high Ebola alert following renewed concerns over the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in parts of East and Central Africa.
The alert comes amid an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has triggered heightened global concern due to its severity, limited treatment options, and the risk of cross-border transmission through increased travel and porous regional frontiers.
In a nationwide public health advisory dated May 27, 2026, and issued to Commissioners for Health across all states, the agency warned that Nigeria faces a significant risk of importation of the virus despite not recording any confirmed case.
The Bundibugyo strain is considered particularly concerning because it is less common and differs from the Zaire strain, against which existing vaccines and antibody-based treatments are primarily developed.
High-risk states identified by the NCDC include Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa. The classification, according to the agency, is based on their international airports, seaports, major land borders, and high human traffic volumes, all of which increase vulnerability to importation of infectious diseases.
“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 NCDC stated.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case linked to the ongoing outbreak, the agency noted that a dynamic risk assessment conducted after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern indicated that the risk of importation remains high.
Epidemiological data cited in the advisory shows that 1,077 suspected cases and 247 deaths have already been reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a case fatality rate of 24.6 per cent, underscoring the severity of the outbreak and the urgency of preparedness measures.
The NCDC stressed that the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, which differs significantly from the more widely known Zaire strain, and therefore presents additional challenges for prevention and clinical management.
“The current Bundibugyo virus outbreak has no licensed vaccines or approved targeted therapeutics,” the advisory warned.
Health authorities further cautioned that early symptoms of Ebola infection can closely resemble other endemic illnesses such as malaria, Lassa fever, and typhoid fever, making early detection and clinical differentiation more difficult in routine healthcare settings.
The agency warned that this overlap in symptoms could increase the risk of delayed diagnosis, particularly in primary healthcare facilities where laboratory confirmation may not be immediately available.
As part of emergency preparedness efforts, the NCDC disclosed that its National Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in alert mode to coordinate surveillance, risk communication, and rapid response activities across the country.
State governments have also been directed to immediately activate Ebola preparedness and response structures, strengthen disease surveillance systems, and ensure that all health facilities are equipped to detect and report suspected cases promptly.
In addition, the advisory urged states to identify and prepare isolation centres, intensify screening at points of entry including airports, seaports and land borders, and ensure the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health workers.
Public sensitisation campaigns have also been recommended to counter misinformation, reduce panic, and encourage early reporting of symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease.
The agency emphasized that Nigeria’s vulnerability is heightened by its extensive air, land, and sea connections with affected regions, stressing that preparedness at all levels of government remains critical to preventing any possible outbreak.
As part of its emergency readiness strategy, the NCDC confirmed that its National Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in alert mode to coordinate surveillance, rapid response, and risk communication efforts nationwide.
State authorities have been directed to immediately strengthen surveillance systems, activate Ebola preparedness structures, identify isolation centres, equip frontline health workers with protective gear, and intensify public awareness campaigns to curb misinformation and panic.
Reiterating the urgency of coordinated action, the agency warned that early detection remains the most effective defence against the virus, especially given the difficulty of distinguishing Ebola symptoms from common illnesses such as malaria and Lassa fever at initial stages.
With the Bundibugyo strain showing a high fatality rate and no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently available, the NCDC stressed that swift compliance with preparedness measures by all states will be crucial in safeguarding public health and preventing a potential national outbreak.
