NCDC
Iyunade Grace
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a public health advisory after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026. The NCDC confirmed there are no Ebola cases in Nigeria at the moment, but said the rise in cross-border movement in Central and East Africa has put the country on high alert.
The outbreak was first reported in Ituri province in northeastern DRC on May 16, near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. As of May 16, Africa CDC reported 336 suspected cases and 88 deaths. The strain is the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola with no approved vaccines or therapeutics. Two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, have also been reported in Kampala, Uganda, among people who travelled from the DRC.
In response, the NCDC said it is working closely with the Port Health Service and other stakeholders to prevent importation of the virus. Measures include heightened surveillance at all points of entry, especially airports, strengthening laboratory readiness, and reinforcing infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities. The agency’s national reference laboratory and other Lassa fever testing labs can be activated for Ebola testing if needed.
The advisory warns that Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals. Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding, with an incubation period of 2 to 21 days. The NCDC is urging Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to affected countries and to avoid contact with sick people or bushmeat from unknown sources.
Healthcare workers have been told to maintain a high index of suspicion and to use strict isolation and PPE when managing suspected cases. Private hospitals have been reminded they play a critical role in early detection and must report unusual cases through established channels. The NCDC also stressed that people with recent travel to affected areas who develop symptoms should call 6232 or state hotlines and avoid public transport until assessed.
The WHO has advised against closing borders or restricting trade, saying such measures push movement into unmonitored routes and undermine response efforts. The NCDC echoed that position but said Nigerians should limit travel to affected areas unless absolutely necessary. It added that no approved Bundibugyo vaccine is available in Nigeria at the moment, though vaccines exist for the Zaire strain.
For now, the NCDC says the situation in Nigeria remains under control and is being monitored daily through its emergency operations centre. The agency urged the public to rely only on verified updates, practise regular hand hygiene, and report any unusual illness early. It promised to provide timely updates as the regional outbreak evolves.
