NCDC Reviews Ebola Risk To Nigeria After Kenya Confirms Imported Case

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has that it is reviewing the risk of Ebola spreading to Nigeria following the confirmation of an imported case of the disease in Kenya.

The NCDC said it had been monitoring an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and assessing what it could mean for Nigeria.

On 6 October, the Kenyan government confirmed an imported case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

In a statement signed by the Director-General, NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, read that the development added a new concern to the regional situation because it showed that the disease could be carried across borders through travel and population movement.

“While the case was linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its detection in Kenya underscores the risk of international importation through travel and population movement, including the possibility of importation into Nigeria,” the agency said.

According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC. He travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi, where he was isolated and tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus.

The patient later died, and Kenyan health authorities have begun contact tracing and other response measures, the NCDC said.

The Nigerian public health agency said that as of 6 October, there was no confirmed case of Ebola disease in Nigeria.

“Kindly note that, as of October 6, 2026, there is no confirmed case of Ebola disease in Nigeria.”

It said that since the outbreak was first reported in the DRC, it had worked with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, state governments and other stakeholders to strengthen the country’s preparedness.

The measures, it said, have focused on early detection, isolation and referral of suspected cases, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, risk communication and the protection of healthcare workers.

The NCDC said it had also conducted a National Ebola Preparedness Tabletop Simulation Exercise to test response plans and identify areas that need more attention.

“As a result of this latest development, NCDC is reviewing the risk to Nigeria and existing preparedness measures to ensure that they remain appropriate to the evolving situation,” it said.

“These measures will be adapted and strengthened as necessary, working with relevant national and subnational authorities and partners.”

The agency urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, advising people to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub.

It advised the public to avoid direct contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone who is ill, especially a person with symptoms that may suggest Ebola disease.

It also advised people to avoid contact with the bodies of people who died from an unknown illness and to avoid handling sick or dead wild animals or eating raw or poorly prepared bushmeat.

The NCDC said anyone who feels unwell after travelling to an affected country or area, or after contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have Ebola disease, should quickly seek care at a recognised health facility.

It urged people to provide healthcare workers with accurate information about recent travel, especially travel to countries with Ebola cases, and to report any possible exposure to a suspected or confirmed case.

The agency also urged Nigerians to rely on information from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other official public health authorities, and to avoid sharing unverified information.

Healthcare workers in public and private facilities were advised to remain alert when assessing patients with symptoms linked to Ebola disease, especially those who have travelled to an affected country or had relevant exposure within the previous 21 days.

The NCDC said early symptoms of Ebola could look like other common illnesses that cause fever, warning health workers not to wait for a patient to begin bleeding before considering Ebola as a possible diagnosis.

It advised health workers to apply standard safety precautions to all patients and to immediately isolate anyone suspected of having Ebola disease.

Healthcare workers should also use the required personal protective equipment and notify relevant public health authorities through established surveillance channels, the agency said.

The NCDC said health workers should maintain safety measures until a suspected patient is transferred to a designated public health team for assessment, testing and treatment.

Travellers to and from affected areas were advised to remain vigilant, learn the symptoms of Ebola disease and monitor their health for 21 days after leaving an affected location, especially if they may have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case.

“If symptoms develop, avoid unnecessary contact with others and immediately contact the appropriate public health authorities or seek care at a recognised health facility, clearly disclosing travel and possible exposure history,” the NCDC said.

The agency said it would continue to monitor developments in Kenya, the DRC and other affected countries, while working with national, regional and international partners to assess the implications for Nigeria and strengthen preparedness where necessary.

Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after the disease was introduced into Lagos by an infected traveller from Liberia. The NCDC said the country’s past experience showed the importance of early detection and a rapid response in preventing further spread.

The agency urged state governments, healthcare workers and the public to remain vigilant and support Ebola preparedness efforts. It said further updates would be provided as the regional situation develops.