NCDC Issues High Ebola Alert for Lagos and FCT

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued a high Ebola alert for Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and several other states due to an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus disease in East and Central Africa. The advisory, dated May 27, 2026, highlights Nigeria's vulnerability to the importation of the virus due to increased regional transmission and international travel.

The states classified as high risk include Lagos, FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa, particularly around major airports and seaports. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, which has a fatality rate of 24.6% in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The NCDC has activated its emergency operations center and is coordinating nationwide response efforts, including public awareness campaigns and enhanced surveillance at entry points. The agency urges health workers to be vigilant for symptoms resembling malaria or Lassa fever, which complicate early detection.