The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has dispatched a team of specialists to Nigeria as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) surpasses 10,000 cases, according to an announcement on Tuesday. The move comes as the virus continues to spread beyond its epicentre, with Kenya and Uganda also reporting infections.
The ECDC team, led by a senior expert in epidemic intelligence, will provide advice and technical support to the EU Delegation in Abuja. They have also offered assistance to Nigerian authorities in disease surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, as well as preparedness and response measures.
This is not the first time the Stockholm-based agency has intervened in the current outbreak, which is the largest the DRC has ever experienced. In May, ECDC experts were deployed to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency also led a fact-finding mission on exit screening at airports in the DRC and Uganda, and sent experts to South Sudan in June.
Regional spread and response
The outbreak began in the DRC in May and has since spread to Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. Kenya reported its first-ever Ebola case on 6 October. As of Monday, eight contacts of confirmed cases had developed symptoms and tested positive for Ebola following laboratory testing. They were immediately transferred to the Ebola treatment centre in Nairobi, according to the United Nations. A further 20 contacts were released from quarantine in Kenya on Tuesday.
Nigeria, the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, is now receiving European support. The ECDC experts are working alongside local health officials to strengthen the country's ability to detect and respond to potential cases. This collaboration is part of a broader European effort to bolster global health security, a topic that has gained renewed attention in light of the neglected diseases that could trigger the next pandemic.
The risk of infection for Europeans remains very low, according to the ECDC. For those living in or travelling to affected areas in Kenya and Nigeria, the risk is considered low but not negligible. The agency advises travellers to avoid contact with symptomatic individuals and to practice good hygiene.
European health officials are closely monitoring the situation, and the ECDC's deployment underscores the continent's commitment to helping African nations combat the outbreak. The agency's work in Nigeria is part of a wider international response that includes the World Health Organization and other partners.
As the outbreak continues to evolve, the ECDC is likely to extend its support to other affected countries. The agency's rapid response mechanism, which has been activated for this crisis, allows for the swift mobilisation of experts and resources. This is a testament to the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling infectious diseases, a lesson that Europe has learned from its own experiences with outbreaks such as the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
The situation in the DRC remains critical, with the number of cases exceeding 10,000. The country's health system is under severe strain, and the outbreak has been complicated by ongoing conflict and community mistrust. European support, both financial and technical, is crucial in helping to contain the virus and prevent further spread.
In the coming weeks, the ECDC will continue to assess the risk and adjust its response accordingly. The agency's experts are working in close coordination with the EU Delegation in Abuja and Nigerian health authorities to ensure that the most effective measures are in place. This collaborative approach is essential to bringing the outbreak under control and protecting public health both in Africa and beyond.
