How prepared is Nigeria as Ebola outbreak returns in DR Congo and Uganda?

African countries last week battled with fear as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began battling a fresh outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, with health authorities confirming 246 suspected cases and at least 65 deaths in the country’s eastern Ituri Province.

Highly dependable sources confirmed to Umuaka Times that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday announced that laboratory tests had confirmed Ebola infection in several patient samples linked to the outbreak. According to the agency, the outbreak is concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with fears that the disease could spread to Bunia, the provincial capital, and across borders into neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan.

In a statement, the agency disclosed: “Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,”

Preliminary laboratory findings detected the Ebola virus in 13 out of 20 samples tested so far. Health officials expressed concern over the rapid movement of people in the affected areas, particularly due to mining activities, insecurity, and weak healthcare infrastructure, factors which could complicate efforts to contain the outbreak.

Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, said regional coordination had become critical due to the high mobility of people across borders. Hear him:

“Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential. We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response, and to help contain the outbreak as quickly as possible.”

The agency disclosed that an emergency high-level coordination meeting involving health authorities from Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other international partners had been convened to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory support, and emergency response measures.

Down in Uganda, the country has already confirmed an imported Ebola case linked to the DRC outbreak, heightening fears of wider regional transmission.

Experts are also investigating reports that the outbreak may involve a non-Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. Existing Ebola vaccines and treatments were largely developed for the Zaire strain, raising concerns over the effectiveness of current countermeasures if the new strain is confirmed.

The latest outbreak comes barely five months after Congo declared an earlier Ebola outbreak over following dozens of deaths.

This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC since the deadly virus was first identified in the country in 1976.

Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak, health authorities are said to be on alert over the risk of possible importation through international travel routes.

Nigeria may face an increased risk of importing the Ebola Virus Disease following the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to the strong movement of Nigerians across Central and East Africa for business and religious activities. Although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, health experts warn that regular travel between Nigeria and Congolese cities such as Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and mining communities in eastern Congo could heighten the possibility of cross-border transmission.

Many Nigerians living in the DRC are involved in trade and commerce, oil and gas services, mining-related businesses, telecommunications, religious missions, and informal regional trade, sectors that require frequent movement across African borders.

Concerns are also growing over the movement of Nigerians in Uganda, which has already reported an imported Ebola case linked to the DRC outbreak. Large Nigerian communities are believed to reside in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Mbarara, and other commercial districts, where they are active in business, entertainment, education, telecommunications, hospitality, religious activities, and small-scale entrepreneurship. Public health observers say the extensive migration and travel networks connecting Nigeria, Uganda, and the DRC underline the need for heightened airport screening, border surveillance, and rapid response measures to prevent a possible Ebola importation into Nigeria.

The country’s painful experience with Ebola in 2014, when an infected Liberian-American traveller brought the virus into Lagos, has also renewed concerns.

Densely populated cities such as Lagos could accelerate transmission if cases are not detected and isolated early, experts warn.

In addition, Nigeria is currently managing multiple public health challenges, including outbreaks of Lassa fever, cholera, diphtheria, and mpox, placing additional pressure on the healthcare system.

However, authorities insist the country is better prepared than in previous years. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reportedly activated surveillance and border monitoring measures, while the Lagos State Government has strengthened airport screening and emergency response systems.

Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 through rapid contact tracing, isolation, and emergency coordination is still regarded globally as one of Africa’s most effective outbreak responses.

The World Health Organization and the European Union recently launched new preparedness programs aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s outbreak detection and response capacity nationwide.

For those who may not know, Ebola Virus Disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Common symptoms include fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, bleeding.