ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has ramped up nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness following fresh Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a confirmed imported case in Uganda.

The agency gave the update on Sunday in a public health advisory signed by Director-General Dr. Jide Idris. He confirmed that Nigeria has no recorded Ebola case at the moment, but rising cross-border movement across the region has put health authorities on high alert.

Health officials in DRC and Uganda have already activated emergency responses, including enhanced monitoring, laboratory testing, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns. The World Health Organization recently declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern, citing the spread of the Bundibugyo virus strain and risks to neighboring countries.

In Uganda’s capital Kampala, two lab-confirmed cases linked to travel from DRC were reported, with one death confirmed. In DRC, officials reported 80 suspected deaths and hundreds of suspected cases as of Saturday. The WHO said the outbreak poses a public health risk to other countries and has advised nations to activate emergency mechanisms and strengthen cross-border screening.

NCDC said it is working closely with Port Health Services and other stakeholders to strengthen checks at airports and borders. The agency has intensified event-based surveillance across all states to quickly detect unusual symptoms, strengthened laboratory readiness for rapid Ebola testing, reinforced infection control protocols in hospitals and clinics, and stepped up risk communication campaigns to inform the public on prevention and early reporting.

Dr. Idris stressed that early detection and reporting remain critical to stopping any possible importation of the virus. He noted that Nigeria’s experience with past outbreaks has improved the country’s ability to respond quickly and contain threats before they spread.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials from infected people or animals. Symptoms appear within 2 to 21 days and include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.

NCDC advises Nigerians to wash hands regularly with soap and water or use sanitizer, avoid contact with anyone showing Ebola-like symptoms, refrain from eating bushmeat especially bats and primates, and avoid non-essential travel to affected countries. Anyone who develops symptoms after travel to DRC, Uganda, or nearby areas should call NCDC’s toll-free line 6232 immediately and avoid public transport until health officials respond.

Nigeria remains Ebola-free for now, but NCDC says vigilance is non-negotiable. The agency will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available from regional and global health authorities.