The federal government has placed 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on heightened alert following renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, warning of a possible risk of importation into Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said on Thursday that while no Ebola cases linked to the current outbreak have been confirmed in Nigeria, the rising spread in East and Central Africa has increased the country’s vulnerability.
According to the agency, a fresh risk assessment was carried out in response to growing cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, prompting the classification of several states based on their exposure levels.
States such as Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, Adamawa, along with the FCT, were identified as high-risk due to factors including international travel hubs, active trade routes, and porous border crossings.
Others, including Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abia, and Bayelsa, were listed as moderate-risk areas requiring continued surveillance and preparedness measures.
NCDC Director-General Jide Idris noted that the classification was influenced by increased regional transmission and the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
He explained that Nigeria’s risk level is driven by population movement, international travel, and cross-border trade, which could allow rapid disease entry if not properly contained.
Health authorities also warned that Ebola symptoms often resemble malaria and Lassa fever, making early detection more difficult without strong surveillance systems.
Reports from affected countries indicate hundreds of suspected cases and several deaths, with the current outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The NCDC stressed that containment depends heavily on rapid detection, isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing, and strict infection control measures, as Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
State governments have been urged to activate emergency response systems, strengthen border and airport screening, prepare isolation centres, and ensure health workers are properly protected.
They have also been instructed to submit preparedness reports within 72 hours and immediately report any suspected cases or unusual disease clusters.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after a case was imported into Lagos, an event widely regarded as a major public health response success.
