No fewer than 80 persons have died from a fresh outbreak of Ebola virus in at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to data from the World Health Organisation on Sunday.
This is as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in a statement by its Director General, Jide Idris, on Sunday, said it has increased its surveillance of the disease.
The 17th outbreak in Congo, where Ebola was first identified in 1976, could in fact be much larger, given the high positivity rate of the initial samples and increasing number of suspected cases being reported, the WHO said.
The health organisation described Congo’s outbreak as “extraordinary” as there are no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike for Ebola-Zaire strains.
All but one of the country’s previous outbreaks were caused by the Zaire strain.
The DRC’s dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus.
Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, said in a statement that he had requested technical guidance and recommendations on the potential need to declare the outbreak a ?public health emergency of continental security.
The often-fatal virus, which causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials or persons who have died from the disease, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reacting to the development, the NCDC boss said the centre was closely monitoring the situation due to increasing regional movement across African countries and was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to strengthen preparedness within Nigeria’s public health system.
“NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” he stated.
The NCDC boss described Ebola virus disease as a severe viral illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals.
He noted that the disease has an incubation period ranging from two to 21 days, while symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
Idris said the agency had continued to maintain surveillance systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases while strengthening risk communication and community engagement activities nationwide.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid circulating misinformation about the disease.
“Members of the public should remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation,” he said.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to practice regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, and promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.
The agency also urged citizens to rely only on updates from official public health authorities.
Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola, especially in patients presenting symptoms compatible with the disease alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
Idris stressed the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including early identification and isolation of suspected cases, proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and prompt reporting through established channels.
“NCDC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” he added.
Nigeria gained international recognition for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
Through rapid emergency response measures, aggressive contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions, the outbreak was curtailed within months.
The experience prompted significant investments in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and laboratory capacity by the NCDC and the Federal Government, positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading countries in epidemic response coordination.
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