Nigeria takes action as Ebola cases rise in DRC

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is getting worse, with 89 deaths reported in just the past week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Jean Kaseya, the Director-General of the Africa CDC, said the new numbers are raising fears about the increase in community transmission and the lack of space in treatment centres, most of which are almost full.

During an online media briefing, Mr Kaseya stressed that health authorities need to increase treatment capacity and improve early case detection to slow down the spread of the virus. “Authorities must build more treatment capacity while detecting cases sooner. Early detection prevents patients from needing hospital admission,” he stated.

Africa CDC data shows that Bunia, Gwampara, Mugwalu, and Nyankunde are the main areas affected by the outbreak, while Katwa, Beni, and Butembo in North Kivu are still seeing active transmission. Community spread is a big worry; five health zones in Ituri Province and one in North Kivu make up over 85 per cent of confirmed cases. Mr Kaseya pointed out that only around 30 per cent of newly confirmed cases were found through known contacts, showing the challenges of contact tracing in areas with conflict.

The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for this strain, which makes the situation more difficult.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, said ongoing violence and crises in Ituri and North Kivu are making it hard to respond effectively, as health workers face insecurity and mistrust from communities.

The WHO, along with the Africa CDC, has asked for $518 million for a joint response plan. Although pledges have reached $910 million, only 13 per cent has been released for actual use, creating a gap that experts believe could allow the outbreak to spread further.

Nigeria has not reported any confirmed cases of Ebola, but the federal government is stepping up surveillance and emergency measures because of the high risk of the virus coming into the country.

To prepare better, President Bola Tinubu recently set up a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. The government has also approved ₦10 billion in emergency funds to boost the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support important public health activities.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has released State Outbreak Investigation and Response Funds (S-OIRF), giving ₦21.2 million to each state through the NCDC Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has instructed all states to manage these funds properly and return them within six months.

The NCDC has carried out risk assessments, marking the risk of Ebola coming to Nigeria as “high” due to international travel, movement of people, and porous borders. As a result, checks at airports, seaports, and land borders have become much stricter.

Jide Idris, the Director-General of the NCDC, highlighted that Nigeria is using lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola outbreak. “As I speak, there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. However, we have intensified preparedness activities nationwide to ensure Nigeria remains ready to rapidly detect, investigate, contain, and respond to any potential importation,” he said.

The NCDC has assessed readiness in 549 health facilities across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory and examined 17 designated treatment centres.

The NCDC has asked Nigerians to stay calm and not spread false information. The agency clarified that Ebola is not an airborne disease and encouraged the public to follow updates from official health authorities.

People are advised to:

• Maintain regular hand hygiene.
• Avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids of sick persons.
• Stay away from handling sick or dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources.
• Report any unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.

For more information and guidance, the public can visit the official ministry website: www.health.gov.ng.