Concerns as NCDC raises Ebola alert after Kenya confirms imported case

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has heightened vigilance nationwide following confirmation of an imported Ebola case caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Kenya.

According to the NCDC, as reported by Vanguard, there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria as of October 6, 2026, but the Kenyan case has increased concerns over possible international importation through travel and population movement.

The agency said the patient, a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, travelled by road to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi, where he tested positive and was isolated. He later died.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the development “introduces a new dimension to the evolving regional situation” and underscored the need for stronger preparedness.

The agency said it was reviewing Nigeria’s preparedness measures, including surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing and infection prevention.

It urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion among patients with compatible symptoms and relevant travel history.

“Do not wait for bleeding before considering Ebola disease in a patient with compatible symptoms and relevant epidemiological history,” the agency advised.