Ebola: NCDC places eight states on high alert

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has placed several major states and the Federal Capital Territory on a high-alert status for Ebola preparedness.

This decision follows a national dynamic risk assessment that classified the country’s likelihood of importing the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain as high.

The heightened alert comes in response to an active outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which has already been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization. Although Nigeria has not yet recorded any confirmed cases, its vulnerability is elevated by regional population movements, international airports, seaports, and porous land borders.

The specific territories designated as high-risk include Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa. These areas have been singled out due to their high population densities and roles as major transit hubs.

In an advisory sent to state health commissioners, the federal health agency emphasized that these regions must aggressively scale up their surveillance, laboratory readiness, and isolation capacities.

The current outbreak involves a strain for which there are no approved vaccines or targeted therapies, making rapid public health interventions and strict containment measures the only effective line of defense.

To manage the threat, the federal agency has activated its National Emergency Operations Center in an alert mode to streamline communication and coordination between state and federal authorities.

Medical personnel nationwide are urged to maintain a high level of suspicion, especially since early symptoms of the virus mimic common tropical diseases like malaria and Lassa fever.

Healthcare providers have been warned to isolate suspected cases based on travel history and early symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, rather than waiting for severe clinical signs like bleeding.

State governments have also been instructed to optimize their contact tracing and public communication strategies to prevent any potential community transmission.