Nation / PlaceNG

Lagos

Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital.

Ebola entered Lagos on 20 July 2014 and Nigeria was declared free on 20 October 2014; in 2026 Lagos State tightened airport screening on 31 May, and DR Congo's Sud-Ubangi declared an outbreak on 10 September.

Last refreshed: 4 October 2026

Timeline for Lagos

#14 10 Sept

Mentioned in: Ebola reaches Sud-Ubangi by river boat

Pandemics and Biosecurity

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Background

Lagos is on guard against the 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. On 31 May 2026 Lagos State health commissioner Akin Abayomi announced tighter screening at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with temperature monitoring, enhanced passenger checks and separate handling for arrivals from high-risk countries.

In 2014 Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital was where West Africa's Ebola epidemic entered the country: an infected air passenger arrived on 20 July 2014, and the outbreak spread to Port Harcourt. WHO declared Nigeria free of Ebola on 20 October 2014, after 20 cases and eight deaths. Nigeria redeployed contact tracers and an emergency operations centre from its polio programme to contain it.

Sud-Ubangi, in DR Congo, was reached by the virus in September 2026 and has no standing workforce like Nigeria's 2014 polio Teams; its doctors were on strike when the cases arrived.

Key Issues

Ebola containment

Lagos contained Ebola within three months

Sud-Ubangi declared an Ebola outbreak on 10 September 2026 after a river-boat passenger from Kisangani arrived sick. In July 2014 one air traveller carried the virus into Lagos, and WHO declared Nigeria free of it on 20 October 2014.

Lagos had a standing workforce to call on, because Nigeria moved contact tracers and an emergency operations centre across from its polio programme in 2014. Sud-Ubangi had two confirmed cases by 1 October 2026 and no comparable TEAM. Lagos State's present line of defence is screening at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which health commissioner Akin Abayomi tightened on 31 May 2026.

Common Questions

How did Lagos stop Ebola in 2014?

Nigeria redeployed contact tracers and an emergency operations centre from its polio programme. WHO declared the country free of Ebola on 20 October 2014.Source: https://www.afro.who.int/news/who-declares-nigeria-ebola-free

How many people died of Ebola in Nigeria in 2014?

Eight of 20 reported cases died. An infected air passenger brought the virus to Lagos on 20 July 2014, and it spread to Port Harcourt.Source: https://www.afro.who.int/news/who-declares-nigeria-ebola-free

Is Lagos screening travellers for Ebola in 2026?

Yes. On 31 May 2026 commissioner Akin Abayomi announced temperature monitoring, enhanced screening and separate handling for arrivals from high-risk countries at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/05/lagos-intensifies-ebola-surveillance-at-mmia-amid-central-east-africa-outbreak/

Source Material

Lagos intensifies Ebola surveillance at MMIA WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free