The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has increased surveillance activities at the country’s airports, seaports, and land borders to prevent the importation of the Ebola virus. This move follows the reported outbreak of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The intensified monitoring aims to identify and intercept potentially infected travellers before they enter Nigeria. The NCDC is coordinating with the Nigeria Immigration Service and customs officials to ensure that all points of entry are prepared to detect symptoms of the virus.
This heightened state of alert comes as a response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which poses a regional risk due to cross-border movement and trade.
Surveillance measures at points of entry
The NCDC’s strategy involves heightened screening protocols at all major gateways. Health officials at international airports and seaports have been instructed to conduct temperature checks and review health declaration forms from arriving passengers. Surveillance teams are also trained to identify clinical signs of the virus, including fever, severe headache, and muscle pain.
At land borders, the agency is working to improve coordination with border patrol units to monitor movement from high-risk regions. This involves enhanced information sharing between health agencies and security personnel to ensure rapid detection at porous border locations.
The agency has also advised the public to monitor their health and report any individuals exhibiting symptoms of fever or unexplained bleeding, particularly those with a recent travel history to the DRC. The NCDC stated that it will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation in the DRC and update its surveillance protocols as necessary.
The effectiveness of these measures depends on the consistency of screening and the speed of response from rapid reaction teams. The NCDC remains on high alert to manage any potential cases that may be identified through these intensified border checks.
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