Nigeria on Alert as WHO Deploys Rapid Response, Vaccination Set to Begin
A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has erupted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), claiming 15 lives—including four frontline health workers—and triggering urgent regional health warnings.
Health authorities in the DRC confirmed on Thursday that 28 suspected cases have been recorded in Kasai Province, with the epidemic spreading to the Bulape and Mweka health zones. Victims have presented with classic Ebola symptoms, including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe haemorrhage.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a statement, disclosed that laboratory tests conducted on September 3 at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa confirmed Ebola Zaire strain as the cause of the new outbreak.
A rapid response team, backed by WHO experts, has been dispatched to the epicenter to contain the spread. Measures include intensified surveillance, emergency case management, and infection prevention in hospitals.
“We are acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. He further revealed that 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine are ready for immediate deployment, with vaccination of frontline health workers and contacts expected to begin soon.
Although Nigeria has not reported any Ebola case in the ongoing outbreak, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has heightened surveillance across all entry points and health facilities.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by practising strict hygiene, avoiding bush meat such as bats and primates, and reporting unusual symptoms promptly.
He also advised health workers to “maintain a high index of suspicion, isolate suspected cases immediately, and strictly adhere to infection prevention protocols.”
While no Ebola vaccines are currently available in Nigeria, the NCDC emphasised that prevention and early detection remain the country’s strongest defense.
A Grim Reminder of History
The DRC has battled 15 Ebola outbreaks since the disease was first discovered in 1976. Kasai Province itself witnessed devastating episodes in 2007 and 2008.
Globally, the deadliest chapter of Ebola occurred during the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which began in Guinea before engulfing Liberia and Sierra Leone, leaving over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths in its wake.
Nigeria’s swift and coordinated response during that outbreak remains a public health success story. The nation recorded 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths, including that of Dr. Stella Adadevoh, the heroic physician who quarantined the index case against political pressure and paid the ultimate price.
Her sacrifice, alongside the tireless work of hundreds of health professionals, helped Nigeria contain the virus in record time, earning global praise and saving countless lives.
This latest Ebola resurgence compounds Africa’s already fragile health landscape, with countries simultaneously grappling with cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, and other epidemics.
As the DRC braces for another uphill battle against Ebola, the international community and regional health authorities remain on edge—determined to prevent history from repeating itself.
PIONEER NEWS 