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The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified surveillance and screening at all entry points in response to the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), declared in Kasai Province with 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths, including four health workers, as of September 5, 2025.
Dr. Akpan Nse, Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, confirmed that additional staff have been deployed to enhance border monitoring due to significant travel between Nigeria and the DRC.
“We’ve heightened surveillance at airports, land borders, and seaports. Every traveler from the DRC is thoroughly screened, and we collect their medical history via mandatory forms,” Nse stated.
“Portals have been reactivated to screen all passengers arriving from the DRC, including those transiting through the country. With WHO support, we’ve recruited more staff to ensure robust virus prevention measures.”
Private organizations are also collaborating to maintain functional thermal scanners at airports.
The DRC’s 16th Ebola outbreak since 1976 follows previous outbreaks in Kasai in 2007 and 2008, with the last in Equateur Province controlled in 2022.
The region faces additional challenges from cholera, malnutrition, and displacement.The World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated $500,000 from its Contingency Fund to support the DRC’s response.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that rapid response teams are tracing contacts, testing samples, and providing technical expertise, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies.
A mobile laboratory and 2,000 prepositioned Ebola vaccine doses are being deployed in Kasai to vaccinate contacts and health workers.“The DRC government’s experience from past outbreaks strengthens this response,” Tedros said.
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