The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has initiated heightened surveillance across the Federal Capital Territory and nine states following the emergence of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain in East and Central Africa. An advisory issued on May 27, 2026, cites the increased risk of virus importation due to international travel and porous national borders.
High-risk locations identified by the agency include Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, Adamawa, and the FCT. These regions were selected due to their status as major hubs for transit, including international airports and maritime ports. The NCDC expressed particular concern regarding the Bundibugyo variant, as there are currently no verified vaccines or targeted treatments for this specific strain.
While Nigeria has not reported any confirmed cases, the NCDC risk assessment confirms a persistent threat. Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have seen over 1,000 suspected cases with a 24.6 percent fatality rate. Healthcare workers have been instructed to prioritize patient screening, noting that early symptoms often mimic malaria or Lassa fever, rather than waiting for obvious indicators like internal bleeding.
In response, the National Emergency Operations Centre has transitioned to an alert state. State governments have been ordered to fortify border surveillance, prepare isolation facilities, and supply medical staff with protective equipment. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed that local biosecurity systems are fully operational, drawing on expertise gained from the successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Authorities urge the public to prioritize hygiene and avoid spreading misinformation while the government maintains its defense against the potential spread of the virus.
