Following the confirmation of an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC has initiated measures to strengthen the countryโs preparedness, advising Nigerians to shelve travels to countries affected by the disease.
The Centre also announced that there is no case of Ebola in Nigeria.
The NCDC in the public health advisory noted that though the WHO advises against any restrictions to travel and /or trade to Uganda, Nigerians and residents to avoid all but essential travel to countries with confirmed cases of the Ebola Virus Disease.
Uganda had on 30th January 2025 confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease caused by the Sudan species, in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale city in Mbale district.
According to the countryโs Ministry of Health, only one case has so far been reported, and one death (confirmed by post-mortem).
Forty-four contacts are being followed up. We will continue to monitor the regional and global situations.
Making these disclosures in a public health advisory signed by the NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, the Centre noted that Uganda has experience in responding to Ebola Disease outbreaks, and necessary action has been initiated.
The public advisory reads in parts, โThere are no cases of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Partners through the National Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (EVHD) Technical Working Group, continues these include the update of our EVD emergency contingency plan, heightened surveillance especially at the points of entry, and optimizing diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories in cities with international airports of entry and the National Reference Laboratory.
โIn addition, all Lassa Fever testing laboratories can be activated to scale up testing if the need arises.
โEbola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a severe, often deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25-90 percent. There are 5 distinct species of the virus: Bundibugyo, Zaire (the most fatal of all the five strains, and responsible for the most EVD outbreaks including the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa), Reston, Tai Forest, and the Sudan (responsible for the outbreak in Uganda).
โThe infection is transmitted from animals to humans, with human-to-human transmission occurring through direct contact with the body fluids (blood, saliva, vomit, urine, feces, sweat, breast milk, and semen of an infected person), contaminated objects, or infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, porcupines, and forest antelope.
The virus can also be transmitted through contact with wildlife and unsafe burial practices. The incubation period, i.e. from exposure to the development of signs and symptoms ranges from 2-21 days. โDuring an outbreak, those at risk of infection are health workers, family members, and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.
โThe initial symptoms of EVD include: Sudden onset of high fever, accompanied by other nonspecific signs and symptoms such as headache, body aches, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea.โข Jaundice (yellowing of the eye).
โThe following may occur after the onset of the above symptoms: And in severe cases, uncontrolled bleeding from orifices, dysfunction and/or failure of several body organs such as the kidneys, liver, central nervous system involvement, progressing to shock and death.
In fatal cases, death often occurs between 8 and 9 days of the onset of symptoms.
โThe Ebola virus is in the same class as the Marburg virus and are both classified as Viral hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF). Based on the dynamic risk assessment conducted in response to the recent Marburg outbreak in Rwanda, the risk of EVD is also classified as moderate. A moderate risk classification indicates that EVD, without mitigation, is likely to occur in Nigeria, with the potential for significant public health consequences. So, we need to take the necessary precautions.โ
NCDC advised Nigerians that there are vaccines and therapeutics available for some strains of the Ebola virus.
It noted that the approved vaccine for the Zaire species (EBV) is not currently available in the country but can be obtained from the WHO Afro and does not protect against the Sudan virus.
โHowever, early recognition, isolation of patients, and initiation of supportive treatment, implementing infection and control measures in health facilities and homes, tracing and monitoring of contacts, and safe burial practices, significantly reduce morbidity and the probability of death. (Vanguard)