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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that no case of the Ebola virus has been recorded in Nigeria.
The agency made this known in a public health advisory issued today, September 6, following the confirmation of a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Earlier this week, the DRC Ministry of Health reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths—including four health workers—in Kasai Province as of September 4, 2025. Laboratory tests in Kinshasa confirmed the Ebola Zaire strain as the cause of the outbreak.
In response, the NCDC said that while Nigeria has not recorded any case, surveillance has been intensified, particularly at borders and points of entry. It added that healthcare facilities nationwide are being strengthened to improve infection prevention and control.
“Early recognition, isolation of patients, and supportive treatment reduce the risk of death,” the agency stated. It advised Nigerians to maintain strict hand hygiene, avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding, and refrain from handling wildlife or raw bushmeat.
The agency also urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, adhere to infection prevention protocols, and report suspected cases immediately.
The Ebola Zaire strain driving the current outbreak has an approved vaccine, Ervebo. Response teams supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been deployed to affected communities in the DRC.
The NCDC further advised travellers to avoid non-essential trips to countries with confirmed Ebola cases. It urged anyone arriving in Nigeria from such countries within the past 21 days who develops symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding to immediately call the agency’s toll-free line: 6232.
Nigeria first recorded Ebola on August 6, 2014, when Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer flew into Lagos from Liberia. He later died from the disease, along with nurse Justina Obi Ejelonu and Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who attended to him. Six additional deaths were recorded during that outbreak.
On October 20, 2014, the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola-free.
