The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria is at high risk of an Ebola outbreak given the proximity of Uganda, as well as other factors
The NCDC noted additional risk factors for the Ebola virus on its Twitter account, including the lack of a licensed vaccine for protection, an increase in air traffic between Nigeria and Uganda, and the disease’s high mortality rate.
It stated that it was aware of the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus (EV), which was announced on September 20, 2022. It also noted that the World Health Organization had confirmed the outbreak (WHO).
The NCDC stated that the overall risk of importing the Ebola virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been classified as HIGH for the following reasons based on the evidence currently available:
“The Sudan Ebola Virus does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or licensed vaccine for prevention”.
“The extent of the outbreak in Uganda has not yet been ascertained as investigations have shown that some persons may have died with similar symptoms which were not reported to health authorities. In addition, their burials were not conducted safely to prevent transmission”.
It explained that because of growing air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, particularly via Kenya’s Nairobi airport, a major regional transportation center, and other nearby nations that border Uganda directly, there is a high chance of importation to Nigeria.
“The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with politics, the coming yuletide as well as other religious gatherings and festivals during the last few months of the year”.
