Ebola: Nigeria on red alert

Nigeria has heightened surveillance and preparedness at its borders and other points of entry following the continued spread of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the country was on “high alert” and was strengthening surveillance and response measures to reduce the risk of the virus being imported into Nigeria. The latest advisory was signed by the NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, following a dynamic risk assessment and consultations with public health experts and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The Centre said its preparedness measures would be reviewed continuously as the epidemiological situation develops. One of the immediate measures involves travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) transmission.