Marburg Virus: A Looming Threat Nigeria Cannot Ignore.

To the Editor: high population density, and concurrent Lassa fever and Mpox burdens make preparedness a national imperative [7]. The recent cross-sectional assessment by Oisakede et al. [8] offers empirical confirmation of this vulnerability. The study, conducted among 216 healthcare workers at Nigeria's national viral haemorrhagic fever reference centre (Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital), revealed that only 19 % of doctors and 10 % of nurses had received formal MVD training, and less than half felt adequately protected by personal protective equipment (PPE). Confidence in hospital readiness was significantly lower among doctors (32.5 %) than nurses (65.6 %), indicating institutional and role-specific disparities in outbreak preparedness.These empirical findings from Oisakede et al. [8] and the regional evidence base reveal a clear preparedness gap. While Nigeria benefits from a national Lassa fever infrastructure, this platform is yet to be fully extended to filoviruses like Marburg. The 2026 data provide a measurable baseline for monitoring progress and justify targeted capacity-building funding within the National Action Plan for Health Security (2026-2030). Preparedness is thus not merely theoretical; it demands investment in people, protocols and platforms. Leveraging the Oisakede et al. [8] evidence for policy advocacy strengthens the argument that Nigeria must institutionalise training, simulation, and infrastructure before the next filovirus crisis arrives. Proposed Model for Reducing MVD and other VHF Transmission: .