Ebola: FG Rolls Out New Airport Screening Measures, Places 10 States on High Alert

The Federal Government has stepped up surveillance at airports and other entry points across the country following the resurgence of Ebola virus disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering Nigeria, authorities have introduced mandatory health screening for incoming passengers, including thousands of pilgrims expected to return from the 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia. The measures include the deployment of a dedicated Ebola screening platform for travellers heading to Nigeria, enhanced monitoring at international airports and closer coordination among health and aviation agencies. The latest response follows the declaration by the World Health Organisation on May 17, 2026, that the outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) .

Speaking on the development, the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) , Don Spiff, said travellers bound for Nigeria would be required to complete a health questionnaire before departure. “All passengers flying to Nigeria will have to fill out the Ebola questionnaire before they board the flight,” he said. Spiff explained that the process was being coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) alongside relevant aviation and health authorities. He noted that the precautionary measure had become even more important as the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims is expected back from Saudi Arabia from June 4 through designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano. According to him, support would be provided for pilgrims who may experience difficulties completing the online form due to literacy challenges. He said tour operators, NCDC officials and medical personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would assist affected passengers.

Spiff disclosed that additional screening measures had been introduced for Ugandan Airlines, which operates three flights weekly into Lagos. He stated that flights arriving on Sundays and Mondays would be routed through the Hajj terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for enhanced health checks and clearance procedures. The NCAA official further revealed that directives had been issued to major international carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, while staggered arrival schedules were being considered to ease pressure on screening facilities. He added that government agencies would assess the effectiveness of the current measures before deciding on additional interventions.

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The NCAA has also instructed all international airlines operating into Nigeria to ensure passengers complete the NCDC Health Declaration Form through the designated portal before arrival. In an advisory dated May 30, 2026, the regulator said surveillance and preparedness activities had been intensified to guard against the importation of Ebola into Nigeria. “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has intensified its surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent the potential importation and spread of the disease into Nigeria,” the advisory stated. The authority said it was working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC, Port Health Services, state ministries of health and international health organisations to strengthen national preparedness. Airlines were also directed to notify passengers about the health declaration requirement and provide assistance where necessary. Pilots have been instructed to immediately notify Air Traffic Control of any suspected communicable disease case onboard aircraft, while flight crew members must complete Aircraft General Declaration forms for suspected cases. Passengers unable to complete the online process before arrival would be allowed to fill paper forms at the airport, the advisory added. The latest outbreak has rekindled memories of the 2014 Ebola crisis in Nigeria, which was eventually contained after the virus was introduced into the country by Liberian-American diplomat Patrick Sawyer.

Investigations showed that health screening procedures have already commenced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Officials were seen conducting temperature checks, verifying vaccination records and gathering passenger information to support contact-tracing efforts. Similar measures have reportedly been implemented at other international airports nationwide. A security official at the Port Harcourt International Airport, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said monitoring activities by Port Health Services had been strengthened. A traveller arriving from the United Kingdom, identified simply as Adela, observed that screening procedures appeared more stringent than usual, especially for passengers arriving from African countries. The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed that airports across the country had been placed on high alert. “At present, there has been no reported case linked to Ebola at Nigerian airports. However, surveillance and monitoring have been significantly intensified,” she said. FAAN had earlier announced that enhanced Ebola response protocols had been activated at all international airports nationwide, with passengers from high-risk regions undergoing enhanced screening. The authority stated that any suspected case will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols.

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The NCDC has activated nationwide preparedness measures and called on healthcare workers and institutions to maintain a high level of vigilance. In a significant development, the agency has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Rivers, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa on high alert over the possible importation of the deadly virus. The NCDC disclosed that a joint Dynamic Risk Assessment conducted with partners showed that “the overall risk of importation of the disease into Nigeria has been assessed as HIGH due to increasing ongoing regional transmission, international travel, regional population movement, major airports, seaports, porous land borders, informal crossings and trade routes.” The agency revealed that more than 1,000 suspected cases and 247 deaths linked to the outbreak have already been recorded in Congo and Uganda, with a fatality rate estimated at 24.6 percent. Its Director-General, Jide Idris, warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable because of international travel and the similarity between Ebola symptoms and those of diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever. He emphasised the importance of promptly identifying suspected cases and adhering strictly to infection prevention and control measures. The NCDC also clarified that the Bundibugyo Ebola strain currently has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, making early detection and strict public health measures critical to preventing an outbreak. Existing Ebola vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies are mainly designed for the Zaire strain and may not provide protection against the current outbreak.

A public health physician and epidemiologist, Prof Tanimola Akande, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and support efforts aimed at preventing a possible outbreak. He warned that the disease could spread from infected animals to humans and subsequently from person to person. “Citizens can take preventive measures such as proper handling of animals during hunting and while displaying dead animals for sale. Nigerians need to be aware of Ebola and know the common symptoms so they can promptly identify suspected cases,” Akande said. He advised that suspected cases should be taken to health facilities immediately and urged Nigerians to avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms of the disease. The epidemiologist also called for intensified surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders. “Passengers should be screened to ensure that suspected cases are identified early, isolated and moved to appropriate health facilities,” he said. Akande noted that the NCDC was already collaborating with relevant stakeholders to strengthen preparedness. He warned that the Bundibugyo strain currently responsible for the outbreak has a fatality rate of between 30 and 50 per cent and could remain undetected for weeks. “It is, therefore, very important that precautionary measures are taken by the government, partners and Nigerians to ensure that no outbreak is recorded in Nigeria,” the epidemiologist added.

As of the time of this report, Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease. The NCDC continues to monitor the situation closely and has assured citizens that all necessary protocols are in place to prevent the importation and spread of the virus. The agency urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility, and adhere to all public health advisories.

Ebola: FG Rolls Out New Airport Screening Measures, Places 10 States on High Alert

WHO Steps Up Ebola Response, Prioritises Vaccine Testing Amid Outbreak

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has intensified global efforts to contain the ongoing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, convening top scientific and advisory groups to urgently evaluate experimental vaccines and therapeutics as cases continue to emerge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with additional cross-border infections reported in Uganda.

The latest outbreak has raised fresh concerns among international health authorities because the Bundibugyo ebolavirus is one of the less common species of Ebola virus, and currently has no licensed vaccine or approved therapeutic treatment, unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus for which approved countermeasures exist.

In a statement released after a high-level emergency consultation, WHO said its expert advisory groups concluded that all promising medical countermeasures for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) should only be deployed within carefully designed clinical trials to ensure scientific evidence generation while maintaining strict safety and ethical standards. (who.int)

The organisation disclosed that the review involved its R&D Blueprint Technical Advisory Group, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), and WHO’s Ebola Vaccine Working Group, which assessed all available vaccine and treatment candidates for immediate deployment feasibility.

WHO said the current outbreak underscores a major research gap in global preparedness for non-Zaire Ebola strains, particularly the Bundibugyo species, which caused significant outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012, with fatality rates ranging between 25 and 50 per cent, according to historical outbreak data. (cdc.gov)

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For treatment of confirmed infections, independent experts prioritised three investigational therapeutics for immediate clinical trial evaluation.

These include the monoclonal antibody MBP134, Maftivimab®, and the antiviral drug remdesivir, all of which have shown potential antiviral activity against filoviruses in preclinical and limited clinical settings.

The advisory groups also endorsed testing combination therapy involving a monoclonal antibody and remdesivir to determine whether combined treatment could improve survival outcomes.

WHO stressed that none of these interventions should be administered outside structured clinical protocols.

For post-exposure prophylaxis among individuals who have had direct contact with confirmed or probable cases, experts identified the oral antiviral obeldesivir as a priority candidate.

The strategy involves rapidly administering oral tablets to exposed contacts to assess whether infection can be prevented before symptom onset.

However, WHO warned that this approach depends heavily on rapid case detection and effective contact tracing, both of which remain operational challenges in some affected communities due to security concerns and difficult terrain.

On vaccines, WHO identified the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), as the most promising candidate for future trial deployment.

The vaccine is estimated to require seven to nine months before becoming trial-ready.

A second candidate, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, could be available for efficacy trials within two to three months, pending additional animal safety and immunogenicity data.

Experts said a single-dose vaccination strategy could be suitable for immediate ring vaccination of contacts of infected persons, while a two-dose regimen may be more appropriate for frontline health workers and other high-risk responders.

The panels also reviewed Ervebo, currently the world’s only licensed Ebola vaccine.

Although Ervebo has proven highly effective against Zaire ebolavirus, WHO said there is currently no conclusive evidence that it offers protection against the Bundibugyo strain.

As a result, the organisation advised that Ervebo should not be used outside rigorously controlled research settings specifically designed to evaluate possible cross-protection.

WHO said it is collaborating closely with the governments of the DRC and Uganda, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS), and other global partners to fast-track ethical clinical trial protocols.

The organisation emphasised that all research activities must meet the highest international ethical standards, with affected communities actively involved in decision-making and national authorities maintaining oversight.

WHO also called for accelerated deployment of essential laboratory supplies, stronger surveillance systems, enhanced community engagement, and coordinated international funding to support rapid evaluation of Bundibugyo-specific countermeasures.

Despite the accelerated research push, WHO reiterated that the immediate priority remains containing transmission through established Ebola control measures, including rapid diagnosis, case isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community education, safe burials, and intensive surveillance.

Health officials warned that while scientific progress offers hope, effective outbreak containment will depend primarily on swift public health action and strong regional cooperation.

WHO Steps Up Ebola Response, Prioritises Vaccine Testing Amid Outbreak

UK Scientists Develop New Ebola Vaccine As Congo Outbreak Triggers Global Health Concern

Scientists at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom are racing to develop a new Ebola vaccine that could be ready within months as the deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to worsen.

The experimental vaccine is specifically targeting the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, a dangerous species of the virus that currently has no approved vaccine or dedicated treatment.

According to health authorities, the outbreak in Congo has already led to about 750 suspected infections and 177 deaths, while cases have also reportedly spread into neighbouring Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now upgraded the national risk level in Congo from “high” to “very high” and declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, although officials stressed that the situation is not yet considered a pandemic.

Scientists at Oxford University say they are accelerating vaccine development efforts in preparation for a possible escalation of the outbreak.

The vaccine is being developed using the same adaptable ChAdOx1 technology that powered the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during the coronavirus pandemic.

Researchers explained that the technology uses a harmless modified virus derived from a chimpanzee cold virus to safely deliver genetic instructions to the human immune system.

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This time, scientists inserted genetic material from the Bundibugyo Ebola virus so the immune system can recognise and fight the infection if exposed later.

Experts say the vaccine itself cannot cause Ebola infection or symptoms but is designed to prepare the body’s immune defences against the virus.

Oxford University confirmed that the vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, is being developed in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers.

The Serum Institute is expected to mass-produce doses once Oxford scientists provide medical-grade materials for manufacturing.

Animal testing is already underway in Oxford as researchers simultaneously prepare for possible human clinical trials.

According to the WHO, the vaccine could be ready for early clinical testing within two to three months if development progresses successfully.

Professor Teresa Lambe, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group, said scientists are moving quickly while still maintaining scientific and ethical standards.

“My hope is that this outbreak can be brought under control quickly and that vaccines are ultimately not needed. Nevertheless, our team and partners will continue working to ensure that potential vaccine options are available if they are needed,” she said.

Lambe also stressed the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario.

“People are worried about this outbreak. Hopefully, contact tracing and quarantine will be enough, but we cannot take our foot off the gas,” she added.

Health experts say the Bundibugyo Ebola strain kills between 30 and 40 percent of infected patients, making it particularly dangerous because no licensed vaccine currently exists for it.

The virus was first identified in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district in 2007 before resurfacing in Congo years later.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, bleeding and organ failure in severe cases.

In addition to vaccine development, global health authorities are intensifying contact tracing, isolation measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent further spread of the disease.

The outbreak has reignited international concerns over emerging infectious diseases and the need for rapid vaccine production capabilities following lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK Scientists Develop New Ebola Vaccine As Congo Outbreak Triggers Global Health Concern