The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
(NCDC) has said that none of the 62 people exposed to Nigeria's imported case
of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) developed the infection
after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period.
The agency made this known on Friday, announcing the
discharge of the last person under monitoring and confirming that no secondary
transmission was recorded. NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed
this at a briefing on Nigeria's response to the imported case confirmed in the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20, 2026.
He said 13 of the 62 contacts reported fever or other
symptoms during the monitoring period, but laboratory tests showed that none
had contracted the virus. The agency also investigated seven suspected cases in
Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Ekiti states over the past three weeks, and
all tested negative.
Idris cautioned that completing contact monitoring is
not a formal declaration that Nigeria is free of Ebola. He said the country
will maintain heightened surveillance and preparedness, particularly because
Ebola cases are still being reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Interestingly too, for any country to declare Ebola-free, that would be
done by the World Health Organisation based on its own protocols," he
said.
He said the imported case was detected after
healthcare workers raised an alert through the agency's event-based
surveillance system, which prompted an investigation involving the FCT health
authorities and other institutions. After confirmation, the National Emergency
Operations Centre was activated and an Incident Management System set up. The
response involved tracing and monitoring exposed people, strengthening
infection prevention in health facilities, training health workers, providing
protective equipment and supplies, and stepping up public communication and
community engagement to counter misinformation.
Patient recovers in Switzerland
Idris said the index patient received medical
attention in Nigeria before being evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 for
further treatment. Tests on arrival confirmed she was still positive, but she
later recovered, tested negative and was discharged from hospital. He dismissed
suggestions that the evacuation reflected a lack of confidence in Nigeria's
health system. "It is not a matter of trust issues. The hospital here
managed the case properly and as best as it could do," he said.
Highest response level maintained
Despite the end of contact monitoring, the Emergency
Operations Centre remains activated, with the Incident Management System at
Level 3, the highest response level for Ebola. All 36 states and the FCT have
been brought into the national preparedness framework, though readiness varies.
Ten states with international airports and borders were initially identified as
high-risk, while guidelines were also provided to others. "All the states
are queued in. They may be at different stages of preparedness, but that is
what we are urging them to do," he said. The NCDC will continue to support
states with training, initial supplies and other interventions, and
surveillance will be sustained at international points of entry with Port
Health Services.
Festive season warning
As the December festive season approaches, Idris urged
residents and international visitors to seek medical attention promptly when
unwell, especially after travel or possible exposure to an infectious disease.
He cautioned against assuming every fever is malaria and advised people to
disclose their travel history and possible exposure to health workers. He also
called on organisers of religious gatherings, political rallies, concerts,
festivals and sporting events to provide adequate sanitation, safe drinking
water and medical assistance, and to report suspected illnesses promptly. The
agency has developed public health guidelines for mass gatherings. Inbound
international travellers were reminded to complete the Nigeria Health
Declaration Form before arrival. "There is no reason for panic. What is
required is continued vigilance, early reporting and cooperation with public
health authorities," he said.
Earlier, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health
Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, said the initial alert
came from a private health facility whose medical team reviewed the patient's
travel history and suspected Ebola. She said the FCT Rapid Response Team was
immediately deployed to the hospital, and that its members also completed a
three-week isolation period and remained healthy. She commended the hospital
for promptly reporting the suspected case and urged other private facilities to
notify the NCDC or FCT health authorities immediately when they encounter
suspected infections. She credited the management of the incident to
collaboration among the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, development partners and the FCT authorities.
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