Nigeria enters high alert amid Ebola outbreak in DRC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Nigeria on high alert due to a rapidly evolving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo virus, has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases and deaths. As of late September, the DRC reported approximately 7,672 confirmed cases and 3,699 deaths.

To mitigate the risk of importation, the NCDC has implemented enhanced surveillance measures. Travelers arriving from countries with active Ebola transmission are required to complete a Health Declaration Form. The agency has urged the public to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or bleeding occur, especially following travel to affected regions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that the outbreak in the DRC remains uncontrolled and is spreading across multiple provinces. While cases have declined in some areas like Ituri, they have surged in others, such as North Kivu. The WHO also warned of a critical shortage of health workers needed to staff treatment centers amidst difficult conditions including insecurity and population displacement.