The Federal Government has identified 53 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), up from the initial 44, as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission of the virus.
It has also approved emergency payments of N100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as part of measures to contain the outbreak in the FCT.
This comes as the Lagos State Government intensified Ebola surveillance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and strengthened public health preparedness following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Abuja.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed these developments at a briefing in Abuja yesterday.
The government had initially announced 44 contacts following the confirmation of the Ebola case in the FCT on October 20, 2026.
Idris said the contacts, including healthcare workers, the patient’s spouse, domestic staff and other individuals who might have been exposed to the virus, had been identified, categorised and placed under monitoring.
He explained that contact tracing was ongoing and that the number could change as investigations progressed and more information became available.
The NCDC chief maintained that Nigeria had recorded only one confirmed Ebola case, while two additional suspected cases had been investigated.
According to him, a suspected case in Rivers State tested negative, while investigations into another suspected case in the FCT were ongoing.
He added that no contact had tested positive for the virus and that the FCT remained the only state with a confirmed case.
“As of today, we have two suspected cases again. One in FCT, one in Rivers State. But we’ve tested the Rivers case; it’s negative.
“So there’s no red line. We have that confirmed case, that’s the patient in the hospital. Contacts with symptoms, none. Contacts positive, none. States affected, only FCT now. Now, that’s the summary,” he said.
The NCDC chief said the national incident management system had been activated at the highest level to coordinate the response, involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT health authorities, other government agencies and technical partners.
He stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean an individual had contracted the virus. Rather, public health officials needed to monitor such individuals to detect any possible infection early.
“Being identified as a contact does not mean that you have Ebola. It means that public health teams need to assess and monitor your health so that any possible infection can be identified early,” he said.
He urged Nigerians contacted by public health officials to cooperate fully and provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and any symptoms they might have experienced.
Samples collected
On laboratory investigations, Idris said samples collected from the confirmed patient on three occasions had remained positive, while a sample taken from her husband tested negative.
He added that genetic sequencing had been completed by two laboratory facilities to establish the genetic characteristics of the virus. The findings were also being used to facilitate information-sharing with Ugandan health authorities.
The NCDC chief said the agency had strengthened the country’s laboratory capacity, with between nine and 12 public and private laboratories equipped to test for Ebola.
He explained that testing for the confirmed case was being conducted at the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), adding that additional reagents and supplies had been positioned across the national laboratory network to improve preparedness.
On clinical management, Idris said the confirmed patient was receiving treatment at an isolation facility, while arrangements had been made to accommodate additional cases if necessary.
He disclosed that isolation and quarantine arrangements had also been established for contacts requiring closer monitoring.
According to him, the agency was providing accommodation and feeding for contacts placed in isolation or quarantine, alongside temporary financial assistance to help them cater for their families during the monitoring period.
He said the government had approved emergency payments of N100,000 per person weekly for contacts in isolation or quarantine.
“Just to douse the tension, we decided we would do this. We provide N100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding because they were complaining,” he said.
The NCDC chief further disclosed that the government had strengthened screening at the country’s international airports, with aviation authorities, immigration, customs and other relevant agencies working together to improve preparedness.
He said passenger screening measures had also been expanded following confirmation of the case, with health declaration forms required for passengers travelling into Nigeria from all countries.
Idris called on public and private healthcare facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, including patient screening, triage, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, safe injection practices and proper medical waste management.
He urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion when attending to patients with symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly those with relevant exposure histories.
“Healthcare workers should not wait for laboratory confirmation before taking appropriate precautions. Protecting healthcare workers is essential to protecting the communities we serve,” he said.
He also advised Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and promptly report possible exposure to public health authorities.
According to Idris, anyone who develops symptoms following possible exposure should immediately contact public health officials and follow their instructions before visiting a healthcare facility.
He assured Nigerians that the response would continue to be guided by evidence, with surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and preparedness activities reviewed as new information became available.
He urged the public to remain calm, cooperate with health officials and avoid spreading unverified information as the government intensifies efforts to prevent further transmission of the virus.
