NCDC Assures Nigeria Can Contain Potential Ebola Outbreak

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), represented by Director Dr. Jide Idris, announced on Friday during a press briefing in Lagos that Nigeria is not fully prepared for a possible Ebola outbreak but has the capacity to contain the virus if it enters the country. Dr. Idris acknowledged that while Nigeria's preparedness is not at 100%, the country has established systems to halt the spread of the disease through early detection.

He noted that even developed nations, including the United States, are not fully prepared for outbreaks. The NCDC has classified the risk of Ebola entering Nigeria as high due to increased international travel and population movement across porous borders.

Surveillance has been strengthened at key entry points, especially international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, where health screenings are ongoing. Dr. Idris urged Nigerians not to panic and to avoid spreading false information about the disease, assuring that the NCDC will remain transparent regarding confirmed cases in the country.