By Julian Osamoto
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has warned that 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at high risk of Ebola virus disease importation following an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, where deaths have risen to 247.
In a public health advisory issued in Abuja, the agency lists Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa as high-risk states, alongside the FCT.
It also classifies 12 states—Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abia and Bayelsa—as facing moderate risk.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said the classification followed a Dynamic Risk Assessment conducted with partners, noting that Nigeria’s overall risk remains high due to regional transmission, population movement and porous borders.
He said 1,077 suspected cases and 247 deaths have been recorded across the DRC and Uganda, with a case fatality rate of 24.6 percent.
Dr Idris warned that the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak currently has no approved vaccines or targeted treatments, meaning response efforts must rely on early detection, isolation and supportive care.
Despite the regional spread, he confirmed that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the outbreak.
The NCDC said it has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre in alert mode to coordinate preparedness activities with federal and state authorities.
It urge states to strengthen surveillance systems, improve screening at points of entry, activate emergency response structures and ensure rapid reporting of suspected cases.
The agency also called for the identification of isolation centres, training of health workers, and stricter infection prevention and control measures across health facilities.
