Ebola: FAAN Assures Of Enhanced Preparedness At Airports
In response to the recent Ebola Virus Disease situation in parts of Central Africa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has promised the travelling public and stakeholders that robust preventive measures have been put in place across all international airports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, FAAN, it said it was working in close collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies to intensify surveillance and monitoring of passengers, particularly those arriving from high-risk regions.
“Passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, and any suspected case will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols.
“Additionally, FAAN has strengthened coordination with relevant stakeholders, enhanced staff sensitisation, and reinforced emergency response procedures to ensure swift action where necessary.
“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the authority said.
The statement comes days after the World Health Organisation declared the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026.
The outbreak, centered in DRC’s Ituri Province, has spread to Uganda and has raised regional concerns due to reported cases and deaths.
‘No Known Treatments’
Meanwhile, a consultant in Community Medicine at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Emem Peters, has urged Nigerians to exercise caution over the new strain of Ebola virus called Bundibugyo.
Peters, who spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, said there are no treatments to manage the virus, unlike the 2014 strain.
“This particular Ebola virus disease outbreak is caused by a different strain called the Bundibugyo strain, different from the one we had in 2014 that was the Zaire strain, and it’s of concern to us.
“We do not have a vaccine yet to control this, and there are no known treatments for its management. It’s all early detection and supportive care, so it’s a new strain, it’s not the one we had defeated,” she stated.
Her statement comes in the wake of the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 513 suspected cases and 131 deaths reported.
According to her, the Ebola virus is a viral haemorrhagic disease that affects the blood vessels, can cause bleeding, affects several organs, and could result in shock and death.
Although there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Nigeria, preventive and precautionary measures are advised to be taken.
Peters also cited symptoms to look out for.
“The symptoms one should look out for would include fever, pain, generalized body weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some extreme cases, you could have bleeding; not all cases would come with bleeding,” the doctor said.
