The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health alert identifying several Nigerian states as high risk for possible importation of Ebola virus disease, following ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The advisory was released on Thursday in Abuja by the Director-General of the agency, Jide Idris, who warned that Nigeria must strengthen preparedness measures despite not recording any confirmed case.

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According to the agency, 10 states have been classified as high risk due to their international travel links, population movement patterns, and border activities.

The high-risk states include Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa.

The NCDC also classified several other states—including Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abia, and Bayelsa—as moderate risk areas.

The agency explained that the classification was based on factors such as international airports, seaports, porous land borders, and major trade routes that could facilitate disease spread.

The alert follows confirmed outbreaks in parts of the DRC and Uganda, where the NCDC reported more than 1,000 suspected cases and nearly 250 deaths, with a case fatality rate estimated at 24.6 percent.

Health authorities also noted that suspected cases have been reported in other countries, including India, while Canada has reportedly introduced temporary travel restrictions affecting affected regions.

Uganda has also reportedly implemented border control measures in response to the outbreak.

The NCDC warned that the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments.

According to the agency, existing Ebola vaccines are primarily effective against the Zaire strain and are not considered reliable protection against the current variant.

This has raised concerns among public health experts, who emphasize that containment must rely heavily on rapid detection, isolation, and infection control measures.

The NCDC said it has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre in alert mode to coordinate preparedness efforts across federal and state levels.

States have been directed to strengthen surveillance systems, identify isolation facilities, and ensure rapid reporting of suspected cases.

Health commissioners are also expected to conduct risk assessments, particularly at points of entry such as airports, seaports, and border communities.

The agency stressed the importance of early detection, contact tracing, safe burial practices, and strict infection prevention protocols in healthcare facilities.

Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak, the NCDC emphasized that the country remains at high risk due to regional movement and porous borders.

The agency urged health workers and state governments to remain vigilant and ensure readiness across both public and private health facilities.

It added that coordinated national preparedness is essential to prevent any potential outbreak and protect public health systems from being overwhelmed.