By The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, despite ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a reported imported case in Uganda linked to the outbreak in the DRC.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, May 17, 2026, the agency said it had intensified surveillance and preparedness measures across the country to prevent possible importation of the disease.
The advisory, signed by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, noted that health authorities in the affected countries were already responding with emergency public health measures including surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, case management and risk communication.
The agency said Nigeria was closely monitoring developments because of increased regional movement across African countries.
According to the NCDC, it is working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Service under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to strengthen vigilance at entry points and within the public health system.
The agency described Ebola Virus Disease as a severe viral infection spread through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals.
It explained that symptoms of the disease include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea, while severe cases may involve unexplained bleeding.
The NCDC said ongoing preventive actions in Nigeria include intensified event-based surveillance, laboratory preparedness, coordination with state authorities, infection prevention awareness in health facilities and strengthened public sensitisation campaigns.
The agency urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading false information.
“Remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation,” the advisory stated.
The agency also advised citizens to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources and report unusual illnesses promptly to health authorities.
Healthcare workers were equally advised to maintain a high level of vigilance, especially for patients showing symptoms associated with Ebola alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
The NCDC stressed the need for strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols in healthcare facilities.
“Early identification and isolation of suspected cases, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and prompt reporting of suspected cases through established channels remain critical,” the agency said.
The public health agency added that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates when necessary.
