NCAA Issues Ebola Alert to Airlines Amid Outbreak

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), led by Director General Chris Najomo, has issued a public health advisory to airlines and airport operators in response to an Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases linked to this outbreak, the NCAA emphasizes the aviation sector's critical role in preventing cross-border transmission.

The advisory includes instructions for aviation stakeholders to monitor the situation closely and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The NCAA has noted that health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo identified a cluster of severe illnesses among healthcare workers, later confirmed to be the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola.

The NCAA has mandated airlines to strengthen onboard disease surveillance and ensure compliance with public health procedures, including immediate notification of air traffic control regarding suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft.