Ebola: WAHO advises countries to strengthen capacity to identify, respond to suspected cases
Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire), Oct. 2026 – The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has advised countries in the region to be vigilant and strengthen their capacity to identify and respond promptly to suspected cases of Ebola.
The organization gave the advice on Wednesday following the confirmation of an imported Ebola virus disease case in Abuja
It also urged West African countries to strengthen cross-border coordination to prevent further transmission of Ebola across the region.
It said it was working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigerian health authorities and regional epidemiological surveillance mechanisms to monitor developments and support preparedness across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
WAHO said it had mobilised support of ECOWAS member states in strengthening epidemiological vigilance and reducing the risk of cross-border transmission.
It said it held a briefing with directors of the National Public Health Institutes of ECOWAS member states on Wednesday to discuss the situation and reinforce regional preparedness.
WAHO said early detection, prompt reporting of suspected cases, effective surveillance and coordination among health services were critical to preventing and controlling epidemic-prone diseases.
It called on the public to observe preventive measures, including frequent hand washing with soap and clean water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
It warned against direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of sick or deceased persons, as well as their clothing, bedding and personal belongings.
The organisation further advised the public against handling the bodies of people who died from suspected causes, stressing the importance of safe and dignified burials conducted by trained teams.
WAHO advised people to avoid handling or consuming bush meat, stay away from sick or dead animals, including bats and primates, and ensure that meat is thoroughly cooked before consumption to minimize the risk of animal-to-human transmission.
It urged anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola, including sudden fever, severe fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea or bleeding to seek immediate assistance from a health facility.
It also recommended avoiding non-essential travel to affected areas and complying with official health guidance whenever travel was unavoidable.
It warned against the circulation of rumours and unverified information, urging the public to rely on updates from official health authorities.
WAHO reaffirmed its commitment to working with health ministries across ECOWAS member states, alongside technical and financial partners, to strengthen regional health security and protect populations against infectious disease threats.
