The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released an alert after examining the escalating outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, consulting with public health specialists and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The agency announced that travellers from regions with ongoing or relevant Ebola transmission will need to complete a Health Declaration Form as part of strengthened surveillance and follow-up efforts. Currently, this requirement does not apply to individuals arriving from other countries.

The NCDC also advised Nigerians to stay alert for Ebola symptoms and seek immediate medical care if symptoms appear, especially if they have travelled or been exposed recently.

As of September 20, the latest data indicated there were 7,672 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,699 deaths in the DRC, with information collected up to September 19. The number of people in isolation increased to 886, with 58 new confirmed cases and 23 fatalities reported since the last update.

Recent cases have emerged in Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo provinces. Meanwhile, 1,879 individuals infected with the Bundibugyo virus have recovered. Approximately 79.9% of contacts identified in the affected areas are currently being monitored.

Since September 18, the outbreak has resulted in 197 new confirmed cases and 94 deaths, underscoring the ongoing health crisis.

The NCDC said it will reassess its response measures as new epidemiological information becomes available and further risk evaluations are conducted.

ASA