The Federal Government has heightened monitoring and screening measures at all entry points across Nigeria following a fresh outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Akpan Nse, disclosed this in an interview on Friday, explaining that additional personnel had been deployed to reinforce border surveillance.
Health authorities in the DRC declared the outbreak in Kasai Province, where as of September 5, 2025, 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths, including four health workers, had been reported. This development comes at a time when several parts of Central and West Africa are also grappling with cholera, malnutrition, and population displacement crises.
The DRC has experienced 15 outbreaks of Ebola since the disease was first discovered in 1976. The last outbreak, which occurred in Equateur Province in April 2022, was contained within three months. Kasai Province previously recorded outbreaks in 2007 and 2008.
Ebola, caused by infection with viruses of the genus Ebolavirus, is a rare but often fatal disease in humans. It spreads through contact with infected animals—particularly fruit bats, believed to be natural hosts—or through human-to-human transmission involving contact with blood, secretions, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects.
Dr. Nse explained that although Nigeria remains at risk due to frequent travel between both countries, strict preventive measures have been put in place:
“We have intensified surveillance at all points of entry—airports, land borders, and seaports. Every inbound traveller from Congo undergoes thorough screening and fills mandatory health forms. Even passengers transiting through Congo are screened. We have also reactivated our portals and increased our workforce with support from WHO to ensure no lapses in border checks.”
He added that private sector partners were working with the government to maintain the functionality of thermal scanners at airports.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the release of $500,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support response efforts in the DRC.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the Ebola Zaire strain, following laboratory confirmation at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa on September 3.
“We have staff already on the ground in Kasai and more are on the way. Our teams are tracing contacts, collecting and testing samples, and supporting treatment, infection prevention, risk communication, and surveillance. We have delivered protective gear, medical supplies, and a mobile laboratory. In addition, 2,000 doses of Ebola vaccine prepositioned in Kinshasa are now being deployed for health workers and contacts,” Ghebreyesus said.
This marks the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC, a country with extensive experience in managing the deadly disease.
