Concerns have been raised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) that Nigeria stands a high risk on an Ebola outbreak given the proximity of Uganda amidst other conditions.
On its Twitter page, the NCDC listed more danger signs of the Ebola virus, on the part of the people, such as the absence of a licensed vaccine, an increase in air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, and the disease’s high mortality rate.
It acknowledged an awareness of the September 20, 2022, announcement of the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda brought on by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus (EV). It further mentioned that the outbreak had been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the NCDC, the risk of importing the Ebola virus and its effects on Nigerians’ health have been rated as HIGH overall for the following reasons based on the information that is currently available:
“An approved vaccine for the prevention of the Sudan Ebola Virus is not available at this time.”
“Since investigations have revealed that other people may have died with identical symptoms but were not reported to health officials, the extent of the outbreak in Uganda has not yet been determined. In addition, their interments weren’t done in a way that would have prevented transmission “.
NCDC explained that because of growing air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, particularly via Kenya’s Nairobi airport, a major regional transportation center, and other nearby nations that border Uganda directly, there is a high chance of the importation of Ebola to Nigeria.
“The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with politics, the coming yuletide as well as other religious gatherings and festivals during the last few months of the year”.
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