Suspected Ebola cases rise to 900 as Nigeria moves to seal borders

The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 900 suspected Ebola cases and over 200 suspected deaths are under investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as authorities battle a growing outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

The outbreak, which has also spread into neighbouring Uganda, has renewed fears across Africa, with Nigerian authorities now tightening surveillance at airports, seaports, and land borders to prevent a possible cross-border transmission.

In an update released Friday, the WHO said there were 906 suspected Ebola cases in the DRC, including 223 suspected deaths currently being investigated.

So far, 125 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, alongside 17 confirmed deaths recorded across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.

Uganda has also reported confirmed infections linked to the outbreak. The WHO said seven confirmed cases had earlier been identified in the country, including three imported from the DRC and one death. Later Friday, Ugandan health authorities announced that confirmed cases had risen to nine.

Health experts say the outbreak is particularly concerning because it involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.

The WHO had earlier declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after investigations suggested the virus may have been spreading undetected for nearly two months in densely populated communities in eastern Congo.

Fatality fears

Anais Legand of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme described the outbreak as highly dangerous, according to Reuters, warning that the current fatality rate among confirmed cases ranges between 30 and 50 percent.

“It’s huge. It means that up to five out of 10 people are likely to die,” she said, while cautioning that investigations are still ongoing and figures remain preliminary.

According to the WHO, delays in detection and treatment may have worsened the spread, although officials say early medical intervention can significantly improve survival chances.

The agency said laboratory testing capacity is being expanded to clear a growing backlog of samples from suspected patients.

Despite rising numbers, WHO officials said the increase in suspected cases also reflects intensified surveillance and case-finding efforts.

“As for whether the peak has passed, investigations are still ongoing. I don’t think we can say that at this stage,” Legand added.

Nigeria activates measures

Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the outbreak, federal authorities say emergency preparedness measures have already been activated nationwide.

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the government had convened a high-level emergency preparedness meeting in Lagos on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The meeting, led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), security agencies, aviation authorities, immigration officials, and emergency response agencies to assess the country’s readiness.

“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, we are not leaving anything to chance,” Tunji-Ojo said.

According to him, authorities are strengthening border control systems and health screening protocols at all entry points, including airports, seaports, and land borders.

He said the government was also deploying surveillance technology and coordinated monitoring systems in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, state governments, and other agencies.

The minister referenced Nigeria’s internationally praised containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, saying the country would rely on lessons from that experience to prevent another public health crisis.

Nigeria successfully contained the 2014 Ebola outbreak after a Liberian-American traveller, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos carrying the virus. Aggressive contact tracing and rapid emergency response measures helped prevent wider community transmission at the time.

Public health experts, however, warn that growing regional mobility and porous land borders across West and Central Africa continue to pose significant risks if surveillance systems weaken.