The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has heightened vigilance and reviewed Nigeria’s preparedness measures following Kenya’s confirmation of an imported Ebola case caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the development highlighted the risk of Ebola being imported into Nigeria through international travel and population movement.
According to Idris, the confirmed case involved a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo and travelled by road to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi. He was isolated and tested positive for the virus but later died.
Idris said Kenyan health authorities had commenced contact tracing and other response measures, while stressing that Nigeria had no confirmed case of Ebola as of October 6, 2026.
He said NCDC had been monitoring the outbreak in the DRC with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, state governments and other partners. Preparedness measures include early detection, isolation, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention, contact tracing and risk communication.
Following the Kenyan case, NCDC is reviewing Nigeria’s risk assessment and existing preparedness measures. Idris also urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of sick people and seek medical care promptly when unwell after possible exposure.
The NCDC boss advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, isolate suspected cases and notify health authorities immediately. He also urged travellers from affected areas to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving, while NCDC continues to monitor developments in Kenya, the DRC and other affected countries.
