Nigeria's medical scientists have raised an alarm over the risk of Ebola spreading into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, calling on the federal government to activate emergency response systems immediately.
The Academy of Medical Sciences, Nigeria issued a public health advisory yesterday warning that regional mobility, trade and travel had significantly increased the country's vulnerability to cross-border transmission of the deadly virus. The advisory, signed by Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, Chairman of the Rapid Response Committee, and Emeritus Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, the Academy President, stressed that Nigeria's successful containment of Ebola in 2014 should not breed complacency.
"The recent outbreaks in DRC and Uganda present a credible risk of cross-border transmission into Nigeria due to regional mobility, trade and travel," the Academy warned. The experts noted that the recurrence of outbreaks within Africa underscores the continued vulnerability of all nations to transboundary infectious diseases. Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral haemorrhagic disease capable of triggering widespread health, economic and social disruption if not rapidly contained.
The scientists called for immediate tightening of border surveillance at Nigeria's airports, seaports and land borders. They recommended dedicated screening lanes for passengers from outbreak areas, digital travel surveillance systems, temperature checks, exposure-history assessments and emergency isolation units at entry points. Healthcare workers must be equipped with adequate personal protective equipment and infection prevention training, the Academy said, as they remain among the most vulnerable during outbreaks.
The Academy urged the federal government to activate the National Ebola Incident Management System involving the ministry of health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, port health services and state governments. All states must immediately reactivate infectious disease emergency structures, isolation centres, referral systems and rapid response teams to prevent a repeat of previous outbreaks. Health institutions across the country should establish Ebola-ready treatment zones with strict infection prevention protocols in place.
The Ministry of Health, port health services and state governments are expected to begin implementing these recommendations within the coming weeks, with the NCDC coordinating the activation of the national response system across all border entry points.
