WorldStage– The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced that travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) transmission may be required to complete Health Declaration Forms at points of entry as part of heightened regional surveillance.
The public health advisory was issued by the NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, following an updated risk assessment of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The new protocols are designed to improve early detection, risk profiling, and contact follow-up for arriving passengers identified as being of public health interest.
Only passengers travelling from nations experiencing active or relevant EVD transmission are mandated to fill out the declaration paperwork.
Travellers arriving from all other nations without active transmission lines are exempt from completing the form at this time.
The directive involves close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and airport authorities.
Public Health Response and VigilanceThe NCDC stressed that Nigeria remains on high alert and that control measures are subject to dynamic reviews based on the evolving epidemiological footprint across Central and East Africa.
Port health officials at major international entry points have been placed on heightened alert to spot symptoms like high fever, weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.
The agency has also urged citizens and incoming visitors to remain vigilant, report suspicious symptoms immediately, and provide accurate travel histories to medical personnel.
