The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Kano, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and seven other states on high alert over the rising outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The agency, in a nationwide advisory issued on Thursday, said Nigeria remains vulnerable to possible importation of the virus because of increased international travel, cross-border movement and porous borders.
Other states listed as high risk are Rivers, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa, while several others, including Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi and Plateau, were classified as moderate risk.
The alert followed the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Although no case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the NCDC said all states must strengthen surveillance and emergency preparedness measures immediately.
According to the agency, the outbreak in Uganda and the DRC has recorded over 1,000 suspected infections and 247 deaths, with young and middle-aged persons mostly affected.
The NCDC noted that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, unlike other Ebola variants, making early detection and rapid containment critical.
It explained that the disease spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, contaminated materials or infected animals, and not through the air.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and unexplained bleeding.
The agency said its Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert mode and directed states to submit readiness reports within 72 hours while immediately reporting any suspected cases.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, urged authorities to act before any case is detected, stressing that Nigeria’s past success against Ebola depended on swift response, strict infection control and public cooperation.
Source: Daily Post.
