Ebola: FG intensifies border screening, orders isolation for high-risk travellers

Nigeria has significantly ramped up health screening measures at its airports, seaports, and land borders in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of East and Central Africa. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced that travelers exhibiting symptoms of Ebola or other viral hemorrhagic fevers, or those deemed high-risk, will face secondary screening, isolation, and referral procedures.

This proactive measure is part of a national preparedness strategy aimed at preventing the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease from entering Nigeria. The ministry issued a statement on Tuesday assuring citizens that no confirmed cases of Ebola exist within the country. However, it stressed that heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide to safeguard public health and prevent cross-border disease transmission.

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The Ministry wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is presently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. However, in line with the federal government’s commitment to strengthening national health security and preventing cross-border disease transmission, heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide.

Enhanced border surveillance includes mandatory temperature checks using infrared scanners and thermometers, health declaration forms, travel history assessments, and intensified risk profiling at all designated points of entry. The ministry has activated "enhanced traveller risk assessment and screening procedures" and established "secondary screening, isolation and referral mechanisms for travellers presenting symptoms consistent with viral haemorrhagic fevers."

These developments signal a return to stringent border vigilance, similar to measures implemented during previous public health emergencies like the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. To bolster disease detection beyond its borders, Nigeria has also reinforced its surveillance systems through enhanced Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response activities, community-based networks, and active monitoring of public health alerts.

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Enhanced Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) activities nationwide and strengthened event-based and community-based surveillance systems are currently ongoing to ensure early detection of any suspected case.