ABUJA — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the nation on high alert following a public health advisory warning citizens, healthcare workers, and port health authorities against the potential entry and spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
In an official public health advisory issued on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Abuja, the public health institute clarified that Nigeria has recorded no active cases of Ebola Virus Disease. However, the agency emphasized that heightened precautionary measures are critical to preventing cross-border transmission amid fresh outbreaks reported in parts of the African region.
The NCDC directed Port Health Services across all international airports, sea ports, and land borders to step up screening protocols for incoming travelers, particularly those arriving from countries with ongoing transmission. High-risk entry points have been tasked with enforcing mandatory temperature checks, collecting detailed travel history logs, and isolating passengers displaying viral hemorrhagic fever symptoms for immediate laboratory testing.
Outlining symptom indicators, the advisory urged healthcare facilities to maintain high index of suspicion for patients presenting with sudden onset of fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and unexpected internal or external bleeding. The agency cautioned against the handling or consumption of bushmeat—particularly bats, non-human primates, and forest antelopes—which serve as natural reservoirs for the virus, and advised the public to practice rigorous hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
Reassuring the public of the country’s technical readiness, the NCDC confirmed that National Reference Laboratories are fully equipped with specialized diagnostic reagents for rapid molecular testing, while rapid response teams remain on standby across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The health agency urged Nigerians to report suspected cases through official public health hotlines and avoid panic, assuring that the national health security framework is actively monitored to prevent an epidemic.
