Elegbede Abiodun
… preventing possible cross-border spread of the disease through regional air travel and trade routes.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has placed all domestic and international airlines operating in the country on high alert and ordered the immediate strengthening of port health surveillance across international airports following a fresh Ebola threat in parts of East and Central Africa.
The directive followed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
According to the NCAA, the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BVD) species, described as a rare and severe strain for which there are currently no widely licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics.
The aviation regulatory authority said the measure became necessary due to increasing concerns over the possible cross-border spread of the disease through regional air travel and trade routes.
In a circular issued to airlines and aviation stakeholders, the NCAA stated that although no confirmed Ebola case linked to the outbreak has been reported in Nigeria, the authority is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Port Health Services and other international health bodies to closely monitor developments.
The authority disclosed that health officials in the DRC recently detected clusters of severe illnesses among healthcare workers in the Bunia Health Zone in the northeastern part of the country, prompting heightened international concern.
It added that treatment for the disease remains largely supportive and symptom-based due to the absence of an approved vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
The NCAA listed symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease to include sudden fever, severe weakness, intense headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding symptoms such as nosebleeds and vomiting of blood.
The authority stressed that early detection, prompt reporting and strict compliance with public health protocols remain critical to preventing international transmission.
As part of the preventive measures, the NCAA said disease surveillance systems at airports have been strengthened, while border screening procedures, contact tracing systems and case reporting mechanisms are also being reinforced nationwide.
The authority further directed pilots to immediately notify Air Traffic Control of any suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
Flight crew members were also instructed to complete and submit Aircraft General Declaration forms for suspected cases, while airlines must ensure that passenger locator forms are properly filled and handed over to Port Health Services on arrival.
In addition, the NCAA mandated airlines to equip aircraft with adequate first-aid kits, universal precaution kits and emergency medical kits to manage potential health emergencies during flights.
Operators were equally urged to reinforce crew training on the identification and management of communicable diseases and maintain strict adherence to infection prevention and control procedures.
The authority called on all aviation stakeholders to remain vigilant and fully comply with established health safety measures to protect passengers, crew members and the wider public from possible health threats.
