Ebola - News Agency Of Nigeria

WHO launches vaccination drive following Ebola outbreak in Congo

Lydia Beshel
Sep, Fri, 2025

Foreign

WHO launches vaccination drive following Ebola outbreak in Congo

Ebola

A vaccination campaign is due to begin in the Congo at the weekend, in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Central African country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

A first batch of 400 vaccine doses arrived by helicopter in the remote affected area earlier in the day, Patrick Otim, the local head of WHO operations, said in Geneva on Friday.

A new confirmed case around 70 kilometres from the outbreak area in the Bulape region of Kasaï province is fuelling concerns about a wider spread of the often fatal disease.

Aid workers who reached the area have identified hundreds of people who were in contact with those infected and would be the first to be vaccinated.

The first cases were reported in early September.

One problem is that the vaccine must be kept at low temperatures but there is no reliable electricity supply in the region.

This is now being achieved with special cool boxes, Otim said.

Another 1,500 vaccine doses are to be flown in once a reliable cooling system is set up on site.

According to the WHO, there are now 25 confirmed cases.

Fourteen people have died, including three children under the age of five.

African health authorities has reported several dozen suspected cases.

However, as this number changes hourly following laboratory analyses, the WHO only reports confirmed cases.

Transmitted through physical contact and contact with body fluids, Ebola is a contagious and life-threatening infectious disease that causes fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea.

The mortality rate is extremely high if infected individuals are not treated immediately.

In 2014 and 2015, more than 11,000 people died in an outbreak in West Africa. (dpa/NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ummul Idris/Chioma Ugboma

Nigeria boosts Ebola alert as outbreak hits DRC

Lydia Beshel
Sep, Sun, 2025

Health

Nigeria boosts Ebola alert as outbreak hits DRC

Ebola

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

This statement comes amid reports of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, said in a public health advisory issued Saturday in Abuja that Nigeria was on high alert, enhancing surveillance at entry points, healthcare facilities, and communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s only Ebola outbreak occurred in 2014, when the virus was imported from Liberia by a traveler, resulting in 20 cases and eight deaths before successful containment.

The DRC Ministry of Health confirmed 28 suspected Ebola cases and 15 deaths on Sept. 4 in Kasai Province, including four health workers, identifying the Ebola Zaire strain as the outbreak’s cause.

The outbreak has spread across Bulape and Mweka health zones and recorded a mortality rate of 57 per cent, raising concerns over the disease’s high fatality and potential for further spread.

According to Idris, there are currently no cases of Ebola in Nigeria, but preparedness has been intensified with infection control, border checks, and community risk communication to prevent importation and transmission.

He noted the DRC activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and deployed a rapid response team, receiving support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to contain the outbreak effectively.

Idris said the Ebola Zaire strain identified had an approved vaccine, Ervebo, which had been proven effective in controlling outbreaks and protecting vulnerable populations in affected regions.

To protect Nigerians, he urged frequent handwashing with soap and water as regular hygiene, a key preventive measure to reduce transmission risk from contact with infected surfaces or individuals.

He advised avoiding physical contact with anyone showing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding, which were common signs of Ebola infection and warranted immediate medical attention.

Idris warned against consuming raw or undercooked bushmeat and cautioned against contact with fruit bats, monkeys, and apes, which were known reservoirs for the Ebola virus in wildlife.

He encouraged Nigerians to report suspected Ebola cases or unusual illnesses, especially among those with recent travel to affected areas, by calling the NCDC toll-free line 6232 for prompt response.

Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, strictly follow infection prevention protocols, and report any suspected cases immediately to aid rapid containment and treatment efforts.

Idris further issued travel advice, urging Nigerians to avoid all but essential trips to countries currently experiencing Ebola outbreaks to minimise the risk of exposure and disease importation.

He assured the public that NCDC would provide timely updates while collaborating with international partners to monitor the evolving situation in the DRC and other affected African regions.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

Lydia Beshel
Sep, Fri, 2025

Health

Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

Ebola

By Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the outbreak is concentrated in the Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province, in the south-central region of the country.

To rapidly scale up the response, an advance team from the country’s Ministry of Health and the global UN health body, WHO, has been deployed.

Symptoms of the rare, but severe, and often fatal illness, include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhaging.

Samples tested on September 3 at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as the Ebola Zaire strain.

A national Rapid Response Team assisted by WHO experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, as well as case management, has been deployed to Kasai province.

Communication experts have also been deployed to reach communities and help them understand how to protect themselves.

Additionally, WHO is delivering two tonnes of essential supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies.

The area is difficult to reach and at least a day’s drive from the provincial capital Tshikapa, with few air links.

“We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said.

“Banking on the country’s long-standing expertise in controlling viral disease outbreaks, we’re working closely with the health authorities to quickly scale up key response measures to end the outbreak as soon as possible.”

WHO said case numbers are likely to increase as transmission is ongoing.

The country has a stockpile of treatments, as well as 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine already prepositioned in the capital city Kinshasa.

The stockpile will be quickly moved to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers, according to WHO .

The DRC’s last outbreak affected the northwestern Equateur province in April 2022.

It was brought under control in under three months, thanks to the robust efforts of the health authorities.

In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008.

In the country overall, there have been 15 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Lydia Beshel
Feb, Mon, 2025

Health

Nigeria on alert as Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak, says NCDC

Ebola
By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the country on high alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda.
Dr Jide Idris, the Director‐General, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
NAN reports that EVD is a rare but severe illness caused by viruses of the genus Ebolavirus.
First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the disease has led to multiple outbreaks across Africa.
Ebola spreads to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, and porcupines.
Human-to-human transmission occurs via direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or materials like bedding and clothing.
Healthcare workers and family members are particularly at risk when caring for infected patients without proper protective measures.
Idris said that although the country has no reported cases of Ebola, the agency, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has activated heightened surveillance measures to prevent importation of the virus into the country.
He said that the outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the virus, was confirmed by Uganda’s Ministry of Health on January 30, 2025, with one reported case and one death in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District.
The Director General of NCDC assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.
He urged Nigerians to adhere to the following preventive measures:” Practice good hand hygiene – Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.
“Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.
“Refrain from consuming bushmeat, especially bats and primates.
“Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”
Additionally, he advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended travel restrictions, he advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to countries with confirmed Ebola cases.
Beyond Ebola, he said that the country is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles, and anthrax.
“Nigerians are encouraged to stay informed and follow official updates from the NCDC through its hotline (6232), social media platforms (@NCDCgov), and official website,” he added.
NAN recalls that the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Initial symptoms include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.
As the disease progresses, individuals may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.
A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies, are currently being evaluated. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba