The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered airlines and airport authorities to tighten health surveillance at all international airports after the World Health Organization declared Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreaks involve the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no widely licensed vaccine or specific treatment; over 300 suspected cases and multiple deaths have been reported in the region.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any linked cases, the NCAA said it is working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Port Health Services, and international partners to increase monitoring and prevention. The agency highlighted recent severe illnesses among healthcare workers in northeastern DRC as a concern.
The NCAA’s circular instructed carriers to boost onboard disease surveillance and comply with international public-health rules. Key measures include:
- Pilots must notify Air Traffic Control immediately about any suspected communicable disease onboard, per Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
- Flight crews must complete Aircraft General Declaration forms for suspected cases.
- Airlines must ensure passenger locator forms are filled and sent to Port Health Services on arrival.
- Aircraft should carry adequate first-aid, universal precaution, and emergency medical kits.
- Operators must reinforce crew training on identifying and managing communicable diseases and strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols.
