The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, and several other states on heightened Ebola surveillance following the outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease in parts of East and Central Africa.
In a nationwide public health advisory issued to state commissioners for health, the agency warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable to a possible importation of the virus due to increased regional movement, international travel, porous borders, and population migration.
The advisory, dated May 27, 2026, identified Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa as high-risk locations because of their airports, seaports, border access, and heavy human traffic.
According to the NCDC, the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there is presently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment.
The agency stated that although no confirmed case has been recorded in Nigeria, a recent risk assessment conducted after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern showed that the country faces a significant threat of possible importation.
The NCDC disclosed that Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have already reported over 1,000 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths linked to the outbreak.
The agency also noted growing global concern over the spread of the virus, with suspected cases reportedly traced in India, while Canada has introduced temporary travel restrictions involving Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan.
Health officials warned that Ebola symptoms may initially resemble malaria, Lassa fever, or other common illnesses, making early detection more difficult.
The agency advised health workers not to wait for visible bleeding before suspecting Ebola in patients showing compatible symptoms alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
As part of preparedness efforts, the NCDC announced that its National Emergency Operations Centre had already been activated in alert mode to coordinate nationwide response measures.
State governments were directed to activate Ebola response structures immediately, strengthen surveillance systems, identify isolation centres, equip health workers with protective equipment, and intensify public awareness campaigns to prevent panic and misinformation.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government assured residents that there were no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos remains on high alert because of its status as a major entry point into Nigeria but stressed that the state’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems remain fully operational.
According to him, Lagos has built a strong biosecurity structure over the years through experiences from the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that the state’s preparedness system continues to respond actively to infectious disease threats, including cholera, diphtheria, and Lassa fever.
Nigeria’s latest Ebola alert has revived memories of the country’s successful containment of the virus during the 2014 outbreak, when authorities prevented widespread transmission after an infected Liberian-American traveller arrived in Lagos.
Public health experts are now urging Nigerians to remain calm, avoid misinformation, maintain proper hygiene, and promptly report suspected symptoms as surveillance and preparedness measures intensify across the country
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