Nigeria’s health authorities have raised the alarm following a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has already claimed 15 lives, including four health workers, in less than two weeks.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, in an official advisory on Saturday, September 6, confirmed that the outbreak has been reported in Kasai Province of Central DRC, with 28 suspected cases under investigation. He stressed that while Nigeria has not recorded any case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the country has been placed on high alert with intensified surveillance at airports, seaports, land borders, healthcare facilities, and communities nationwide.
Health officials in the DRC revealed that the hardest-hit areas are the Bulape and Mweka health zones, where victims presented symptoms including fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe bleeding. Laboratory analysis conducted at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of the Ebola Zaire strain, one of the deadliest variants of the virus. The mortality rate from the outbreak is currently pegged at 57%, though investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the crisis.
In response, DRC Health Minister, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, announced that the government has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, deploying a National Rapid Response Team with backing from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Efforts are being focused on case management, infection prevention, community awareness, and contact tracing.
Dr. Idris assured Nigerians that the NCDC is not taking any chances. “We are heightening vigilance at all points of entry and strengthening preparedness in healthcare facilities. While no case has been recorded in Nigeria, we urge citizens to remain cautious and report symptoms early,” he stated. He further reminded the public that the Ebola Zaire strain responsible for the current outbreak has a tested vaccine, Ervebo, which has proven effective in preventing infection.
The NCDC boss also urged Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation and instead rely on official updates, stressing that the agency will continue to provide real-time information as the situation evolves.
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever first discovered in 1976 in DRC, has a history of devastating outbreaks across Africa. The 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa claimed over 11,000 lives, including several cases in Nigeria before it was swiftly contained by local health authorities in collaboration with international partners.
Public health experts warn that the proximity of the outbreak to West Africa and the high mobility of people across borders make vigilance imperative for Nigeria and its neighbors.