NCDC says Nigeria at moderate risk of Ebola outbreak

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says Nigeria is at moderate risk of experiencing an Ebola outbreak.

The centre disclosed this in its health advisory released on Thursday following the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Guinea.

The NCDC said it placed Nigeria at moderate risk owing to its proximity to Guinea after an EVD outbreak was declared in the West African country on February 14.

According to the NCDC, the cases and deaths were reported in the N’zerekore region of the country.

It added that the cases were detected among seven people who attended the burial of a nurse on January 1.

It assured Nigerians that efforts are in place to prevent the spread of the disease to the country.

“The NCDC has an existing multisectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Working Group (EVHDWG). This group coordinates preparedness efforts for EVD and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases. The EVHDWG has carried out a risk assessment on the possibility of transmission of the virus to Nigeria. Given the proximity of Guinea to Nigeria and other West African countries as well as other indicators, Nigeria has been placed at moderate risk of an EVD outbreak. The outputs from this risk assessment are being used to initiate preparedness activities in-country,” the advisory said.

“Several measures have been put in place to prevent and mitigate the impact of a potential EVD outbreak in Nigeria. A National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) operating from NCDC’s Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is on alert mode. We have a team of first responders on standby, ready to be deployed within 24 hours in the event of an EVD outbreak in Nigeria.

“We have also established testing capacity for EVD at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory. The NCDC will continue working with states to strengthen preparedness activities across the country.”

On February 7, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced a new case of Ebola, months after the outbreak was declared over in the country.

The presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 said it was enhancing surveillance at points of entry into Nigeria to respond to the recent Ebola outbreak in neighbouring countries.