NCDC Urges Calm Over Ebola Concerns

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that there is no immediate cause for alarm over concerns about a possible Ebola outbreak in the country.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Head of Health Emergency Preparedness at the NCDC, Dr Biodun Ogunniyi, said Nigeria is far better prepared to handle the virus because of lessons learned from previous outbreaks.

“There is no need to panic because fear k+lls more than death itself,” Ogunniyi stated while addressing public concerns surrounding recent Ebola reports in Africa.

He reminded Nigerians of the country’s successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which gained international recognition. “In less than 70 days, the country was able to wipe this virus out,” he said.

According to Ogunniyi, Nigeria’s emergency response structure has improved significantly since then. He explained that the country now has stronger coordination systems and better laboratory capacity to quickly detect and respond to health threats.

Discussing the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus, he noted that the strain is already known to health authorities in Nigeria. He said the country can rapidly activate its Public Health Emergency Operation Centre whenever necessary to manage potential cases.

The NCDC official also highlighted the availability of laboratories across Nigeria, including national reference laboratories in Abuja and Lagos, which can promptly identify the virus.

His comments followed reports of the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities have reportedly recorded 513 cases and 131 deaths.

The NCDC Ebola preparedness response aims to reassure Nigerians that health officials remain alert and capable of handling any possible threat linked to the virus.

Do you think Nigeria’s health system is now stronger enough to manage future disease outbreaks effectively?