Ebola in Nigeria: ECDC Sends Experts as Congo Cases Rise
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has sent a team of experts to Nigeria as the Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa continues to spread. The deployment was announced on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as reported cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo passed 10,000.
According to Euronews, the European agency’s team is led by a senior expert in epidemic intelligence. The experts are providing technical support to the European Union delegation in Abuja and have offered assistance to Nigerian authorities as they work to contain the disease.
ECDC Offers Support to Nigeria
The ECDC team is expected to support disease surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and emergency preparedness. These measures are important for identifying possible infections, monitoring exposed people and limiting further transmission.
The agency has also offered technical assistance to Nigerian health authorities. Its deployment comes after Nigeria confirmed an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola disease, in the Federal Capital Territory.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on October 23 that Nigeria’s confirmed case had been identified on October 20. The patient had travelled from Uganda and was receiving medical care in isolation. Investigations were continuing to establish the likely source of infection and the person’s full travel and exposure history.
WHO also said 44 contacts had been identified and were being monitored as of October 20. Nigerian authorities, with support from international partners, had intensified contact tracing and infection control measures.
Congo Records More Than 10,000 Cases
The outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2026 and has become the country’s largest recorded Ebola outbreak, according to Euronews.
WHO reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths in Congo as of October 20. The figures showed sustained transmission across several provinces, with Ituri remaining the most affected area.
The outbreak has placed pressure on health services, while insecurity and difficulties reaching some communities have complicated response efforts. WHO has also reported violence against health workers, creating further challenges for teams trying to identify cases and deliver care.
The virus has also reached other countries in the region, including Kenya and Uganda. Kenya reported its first confirmed case in October, followed by additional infections among people linked to the initial case.
Health Authorities Strengthen Regional Response
ECDC’s deployment to Nigeria forms part of wider international efforts to limit the outbreak. The agency has previously sent experts to support response activities in Congo and Uganda, including work related to airport exit screening.
According to ECDC’s October 23 threat assessment, the risk to people living in or travelling to affected areas of Nigeria and Kenya was considered low when recommended precautions were followed. The agency assessed the overall risk to the European Union and European Economic Area population as very low.
WHO has called for stronger surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and cooperation between countries. It has also advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries.
What Happens Next?
Nigerian health authorities and international partners are expected to continue monitoring contacts, investigating possible exposure and strengthening infection prevention measures.
The ECDC team’s support may help reinforce these efforts, although the success of the response will depend on timely detection, public cooperation and effective coordination.
As the outbreak develops, health officials continue to stress the importance of following guidance from local authorities and seeking medical attention if symptoms develop after a possible exposure.
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