Nigeria Issues Ebola Alert Amid Congo Outbreak

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) issued a public health advisory following a fresh Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As of September 4, DRC has recorded 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers.

The outbreak, mainly affecting the Bulape-Mweka health zone in the Kasai Province, has been confirmed to be the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus with a case fatality rate of 57%. While no cases have been detected in Nigeria, the NCDC has heightened surveillance at entry points and reinforced infection prevention measures nationwide.

The agency also emphasized risk communication and community engagement to counter misinformation and public anxiety.