. As WHO rates Nigeria’s Ebola risk lower than DR Congo, Uganda
. Legislators task FG on proactive measures
JONAS EZIEKE with Agency report
At least 39 people have died, while about 4,204 cases of cholera have been recorded across seven local government areas of Borno State.
The Incident Manager, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Jacob Thlizer, gave the update on Tuesday during a sensitisation meeting on preventive measures and curative management of acute watery diarrhoea for 27 local government areas and stakeholders in Maiduguri.
He said in the last 24 hours, 274 new cases were recorded across 36 wards in seven local government areas of the state.
Giving the breakdown, Thlizer said, “New suspected cases in the last 24 hours are 274, while the total suspected cases line listed are 4,204 recorded from 36 wards in the seven local governments, including Jere, Bama, Kaga, Mafa, Kwaya Kusar, MMC, Konduga, Monguno, Magumeri and Ngala, which were affected. In total, we now have 39 deaths.”
“In Jere: 1,214, Bama: 8, Kaga: 18, Mafa: 184, Kwaya Kusar: 8, MMC: 2,404, Konduga: 275, Monguno: 90, Magumeri: 1, and Ngala: 2 cases were recorded,” he added.
He, however, noted that the state government has embarked on response actions to the sudden spike in the disease.
“The state government has activated IMS, coordinated meetings with all health actors in the state, awareness creation in hotspot locations, and procurement of commodities,” he added.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health and Human Services, Shetima Muhammad, said the government has activated response strategies.
“The Ministry of Health has established dedicated health centres, namely the emergency and infectious disease centre in Njimtilo and an infectious disease camp with over 1,000 beds at Ngarannam to treat the affected people.
“Graciously, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has already listed camps where drugs and consumables will be delivered to people who are taken there,” he said.
He called on residents across the state to maintain proper hygiene and report any cholera symptoms to health facilities.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, assured that the government will provide necessary support to health institutions across the state in preventing the spread of the virus.
“I want to thank you and commend your efforts. I want to say that if there are any issues anywhere, please let us know so that we can confront this menace.
“In the last three or four days, a lot of efforts have been made and I believe that this sensitisation is also a great step,” he added.
. As WHO rates Nigeria’s Ebola risk lower than DR Congo, Uganda
. Legislators task FG on proactive measures
The World Health Organisation, WHO has said Nigeria faces a low risk of an Ebola outbreak compared to some neighbouring West African countries, saying that health authorities have intensified efforts to contain the disease in affected regions.
The Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.
According to Ihekweazu, Uganda remains the only country outside the Democratic Republic of Congo to have recorded confirmed Ebola cases.
“Uganda is the only country with confirmed Ebola cases outside the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nigeria’s risk is low,” he said.
Despite the relatively low risk to Nigeria, Ihekweazu stressed that the outbreak remains a major international health concern requiring coordinated global action.
“This Ebola outbreak is serious and requires an internationally coordinated response. It has already spread to other countries,” he said.
The WHO official noted that the outbreak has reached a level that warranted its classification as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a designation reserved for events posing significant cross-border public health risks.
“It is only the ninth time in history that an outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” he said.
The former Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention boss added that the current outbreak marks only the third time Ebola has met the threshold for such a declaration.
“This is the third time Ebola has met this criterion. There are over 300 confirmed cases spread throughout the DR Congo,” he stated.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease that affects humans and other primates. The virus can spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials and has caused several deadly outbreaks across Africa.
The DR Congo is battling a major epidemic of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever that is suspected to have killed at least 246 people in the country and neighbouring Uganda, according to the African Union’s health agency, Africa CDC.
Deliberating on the issue, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately take proactive steps in order to strengthen the nation’s health system to checkmate the spread of Ebola virus disease and other epidemic prone health challenges.
The House therefore has called for adequate funding of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC to strengthen its preparedness and response capacity for Ebola and other diseases in the country.
These resolutions were taken by the green chamber following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rt.Hon Amobi Ogar representing Isiukuato/Ummunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State on the matter on the floor of the House on Tuesday at plenary.
Debating the motion, Ogar noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is the National Public Health Institute responsible for responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
He further noted that on 15th May 2026, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported an outbreak of Ebolabdisease in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (just two steps from Nigeria).
According to him, this rare and distinct strain of Ebola virus, the Bundibugyo Strain, is causing a major public health emergency in Central Africa and may spread to other parts of Africa soon because of the porous nature of its borders and lack of strict cross-border checks.
He expressed concerns noting that this version of the virus currently does not have any licensed vaccines or targeted medical therapies to mitigate it.
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