By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced stricter border surveillance following the confirmation of a fresh Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to the DRC Ministry of Health, the outbreak was declared in Kasai Province on September 4, 2025, after laboratory tests confirmed several cases of the highly virulent Zaire ebolavirus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported at least 28–32 suspected or confirmed cases and 15 deaths, including healthcare workers.

Nigeria on High Alert

In response, Nigeria’s Port Health Services has intensified monitoring at all entry points — airports, seaports, and land borders. Thermal scanners have been fully activated, while additional staff have been deployed to strengthen screening operations.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also confirmed that emergency response systems have been placed on alert, working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international health bodies.

“Though there are no confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria, we are not taking any chances,” the NCDC said in a statement. “Our focus is to prevent importation and ensure early detection through enhanced surveillance.”

Lessons from 2014

Nigeria’s proactive measures stem from its past experience in 2014, when the country successfully contained an Ebola outbreak after a Liberian traveler brought the virus into Lagos. The swift response at the time earned global recognition and remains a model for outbreak preparedness.

Public Advisory

Health authorities have urged Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant. Travelers from affected regions are being closely monitored, while citizens have been advised to report symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding to the nearest health facility.

What’s Next

The Federal Government said it will continue to review the situation as new updates emerge from the DRC. International health partners are also scaling up efforts to contain the outbreak within Congo’s Kasai Province.

For now, Nigerian officials stress that no case has been recorded within the country, and preventive measures remain the strongest line of defense.