New Ebola disease scare

Following the confirmation of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda on January 30, 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the country on high alert. The Ebola disease was caused by the Sudan specie, in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale city in Mbale district of Uganda. The first confirmed case was a 32-year-old nurse at the Mulago National Referral Hospital. This is the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda since 2000.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health has traced at least 44 people, including 30 health workers, who came into contact with the nurse in a bid to contain the potential spread of the contagious virus. It promised that a vaccination drive for all contacts of the deceased would commence immediately.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed seven cases of Ebola in Kampala a week after the death of the nurse, including the nurse’s wife. The global health agency said during a WHO Information Network for Epidemics webinar that all the confirmed cases were from the contacts of the index case. More than 300 contacts have also been identified. The WHO has identified two main clusters in the outbreak, including a family cluster and a healthcare facility cluster. The effort by the Ugandan health authorities to contain the spread is laudable. Instructively, there is currently a licensed vaccine to protect against Sudan virus infection.

Nigeria must do everything within its powers to avoid the 2014 incident when a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, exported the disease to Nigeria.  That incident alone led to the death of some doctors, including Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, nurses and other people before Nigeria contained the disease. The symptoms of the disease include high fever, chest pain, difficulty in breathing and bleeding from multiple body sites.

Though there are no reported cases of Ebola in Nigeria now, the Ministry of Health and the management of the NCDC must rise to the occasion and activate all emergency measures to contain its possible outbreak in the country. Nigerians are one of the most travelled people in the world, and Uganda is a business and tourist destination for many Nigerians. The health authorities should liaise with immigration and customs officials to test and isolate potential cases entering through land, air and sea borders from Uganda and other countries with symptoms of the highly contagious disease.

The government should embark on enlightenment campaign on the symptoms of the disease, especially the Sudan variant and where to access treatment. According to medical experts, Ebola disease symptoms appear two to 21 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Early symptoms include fever and weakness, diarrhoea and vomiting. Ebola disease can be confused with more common infectious diseases, such as malaria, influenza, typhoid, and other bacterial diseases.

Other symptoms of EVD include aches and pain in the muscles and joints, severe headache, weakness and fatigue, and sore throat. It is important for healthcare providers to evaluate and obtain a detailed travel history from patients with suspected EVD, especially those that have been in affected areas of Uganda. Early detection is key to providing appropriate and prompt patient care, diagnostics, as well as to prevent further spread of the disease.

Travellers coming into Nigeria from Uganda and East Africa are advised to monitor themselves before entering Nigeria or after entering the country for up to 21 days. Tackling the Ebola challenge should not be left for health authorities alone. Self-isolation is recommended for travellers and they must contact the NCDC if they detect Ebola or unexplained symptoms. In 2014, Nigeria contained an Ebola outbreak through prompt contact tracing, isolation, and public health messaging and engagements. The country’s quick response and strong coordination effort was praised by the WHO as “a spectacular success story.” It was also recommended as a model for sub-Saharan Africa due to its peculiarities.

The index case in Nigeria in 2024 was a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, who flew from the West African country to Lagos on 20 July, 2014. He became violently ill upon arriving at the airport and died five days later. The Nigerian government quickly intervened by tracing all his contacts for signs of infection. It also increased surveillance at all entry points to the country. Sawyer was probably infected with Ebola while caring for his sister who died of the disease on July 8.

The WHO representative in Nigeria officially declared Nigeria to be Ebola free on 20 October, just three months after the outbreak was reported. We enjoin the NCDC to be vigilant and be ready for any possible outbreak of the disease in Nigeria. We cannot afford another disruption of public life on account of the highly contagious disease.