31 October 2022 | Abuja – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has been aware of the ongoing
outbreak of the Sudan strain Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Uganda since it was first officially
declared on 20th September 2022. As of 29th October 2022, the Uganda Ministry of Health
had reported 128 confirmed cases and 34 deaths.
The NCDC, through the National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Disease Technical Working
Group, met on the 26th of September 2022 to assess the risk of importation of EVD to Nigeria
and the potential impact to inform in-country preparedness activities. Based on available data
and risk assessment conducted, Nigeria is at HIGH risk of importation of the virus. This risk is
due to the large volume of air travel between Nigeria and Uganda and the mixing of passengers,
especially at the regional travel hubs of Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Kigali airports and the
additional risk from other neighbouring countries that share a direct border with Uganda should
cases arise in other countries in the region.
The outputs from this risk assessment are being used to initiate preparedness activities incountry.
Several measures have been put in place to prevent and mitigate the impact of a potential EVD
outbreak in Nigeria.
• The NCDC Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is now in alert mode.
• Development of an incident action plan for the first few cases of EVD has commenced
• POE surveillance has been heightened using the passenger pre-boarding health
declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP)
platform.
• Passengers arriving from Uganda and persons who transited in Uganda are being
followed up for 21 days after they arrived in Nigeria for their health status.
• Trained Rapid Response Teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an
outbreak.
• All State Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) are in alert mode.
A medical countermeasures plan is available.
• Amplification of risk communication and engagement with states and partners to
strengthen preparedness activities which include– a review of risk communication
protocols, plans, and messages in the event of an outbreak.
• Nigeria has an active infection prevention and control (IPC) programme nationwide
with guidelines and training packages developed for healthcare workers.
INFORMATION ON EBOLA
The Ebola virus can be transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick
with or has died from EVD. The virus can enter the body stream through broken skin or mucous
membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. This can also be spread through contact with objects
contaminated by infected persons as well as direct contact with the blood, body fluids and
tissues of infected fruit bats, monkeys, or chimpanzees.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EVD
Just like other types of Ebola virus, people infected with the Sudan strain cannot spread the
disease until the development of symptoms. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21
days after exposure to the virus but are typically 8 to 10 days on average. Symptoms include:
Fever
Fatigue
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Rash
Impaired kidney and liver function
Internal and external bleeding
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
To prevent the spread of Ebola, the NCDC advises members of the public to adhere to the
following precautions:
Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or use hand sanitisers when soap and water
are not readily available, and your hand is not visibly soiled.
Avoid physical contact with anyone who has symptoms of an infection with an unknown
diagnosis.
Healthcare workers are advised to always adhere to standard precautions. This includes the use
of personal protective equipment always when handling patients and always maintaining a high
index of suspicion.
TRAVEL ADVICE
The NCDC advises Nigerian citizens and residents to AVOID ALL BUT ESSENTIAL
TRAVEL to Uganda for now until public health authorities have determined the outbreak to
be contained. When travel to Uganda is unavoidable, travellers are advised to avoid contact
with obviously sick persons or suspected cases of Ebola.
The Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health has scaled up the screening of
passengers returning from Uganda at POEs.
Travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to Uganda
Persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through Uganda within
the past 21 days who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea,
weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call
6232 or state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing. Such persons SHOULD
NOT visit health facilities by themselves to avoid further spread through the shared transport
system (public or private). They would be visited at home by dedicated responders for
assessment and transported through the designated transport arrangement to the designated
treatment centre when required. Intending travellers to Nigeria with the above-stated symptoms
before departure SHOULD NOT travel to Nigeria but call to report promptly to Port Health
Authorities and/or designated health authorities in the country of departure for testing and care
Inbound travellers to Nigeria with a recent travel history to or through Uganda without
symptoms on departure but who become unwell while on transit are required to avoid contact
with people and to report to the Port Health Services on arrival at the point of entry to Nigeria.
Travellers with a travel history to Uganda who show no symptoms on arrival should provide
accurate information on the NITP platform to ensure follow-up from health workers. If any of
the earlier-mentioned symptoms develop anytime within 21 days of arrival in Nigeria, please:
Self-isolate immediately by staying indoors.
Avoid contact with others including your immediate family.
Call the NCDC 24/7 toll-free line IMMEDIATELY on 6232 or the emergency number of the
state ministry of health (SMOH).
Early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly improve outcomes
including reduced deaths.
Please note that local and/or international travel is NOT recommended until the completion of
the 21-day follow-up period.
About NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is the country’s national public
health institute, with the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection, and response to public
health emergencies. The Bill for an Act to establish NCDC was signed into law in November
2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The mission of the NCDC is ‘To protect the health of
Nigerians through evidence-based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response,
using a One Health approach, guided by research, and led by a skilled workforce.
Contact
NCDC Toll-free Number: 6232 | SMS: 08099555577 | WhatsApp: 07087110839 Twitter:
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