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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported one confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and two suspected cases as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to prevent further transmission in the country.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outbreak response, stating that the suspected cases were identified in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State.
According to Idris, laboratory tests showed that the suspected case in Rivers State was negative, while the confirmed infection remained the only confirmed case recorded in Nigeria.
He said public health authorities had identified 53 primary contacts linked to the confirmed patient and were monitoring them as part of ongoing contact-tracing activities.
The contacts reportedly include healthcare workers, domestic staff and other individuals who may have been exposed to the infected person.
Idris explained that the authorities were following established public health procedures to identify possible exposures, monitor individuals at risk and prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country.
NCDC activates national response system
The NCDC boss said the national incident management system had been activated to coordinate the response, involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, FCT health authorities, other government agencies and technical partners.
He said experienced public health personnel and established disease surveillance systems had been deployed to support containment efforts.
“Ebola is a serious disease, and we are handling the situation with the urgency it deserves. We have a clear response plan, experienced personnel and an established public health system that have been deployed to break Ebola transmission,” Idris said.
He added that the government was prioritising early detection, effective contact tracing, appropriate clinical care and measures to prevent further infections.
According to him, the number of contacts under observation could change as investigations progress and health officials obtain additional information about the confirmed case.
53 contacts to be monitored for 21 days
Idris said the 53 identified contacts would be monitored for 21 days, corresponding to Ebola’s maximum incubation period.
The incubation period, which is the time between exposure to the virus and the appearance of symptoms, ranges from two to 21 days.
He urged individuals contacted by public health officials to cooperate with the monitoring process and provide accurate information about their movements, possible exposures and any symptoms they might have experienced.
The NCDC director-general stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean that an individual had contracted the disease.
“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 explained that contact tracing remained essential to identifying potential infections quickly and interrupting possible chains of transmission.
Hospitals directed to strengthen infection control
The NCDC said measures were being strengthened in healthcare facilities, particularly in the FCT, to ensure that suspected Ebola cases were detected early, isolated safely and promptly reported to the relevant authorities.
Idris urged public and private healthcare facilities to review their infection prevention and control procedures and maintain a high level of suspicion when assessing patients who might have been exposed to the virus.
He also called for healthcare workers to have access to appropriate personal protective equipment to minimise the risk of infection during patient care.
According to him, medical personnel should immediately implement protective measures when they encounter a suspected case rather than wait for laboratory confirmation before taking precautions.
The agency said protecting healthcare workers remained a priority because of their critical role in identifying suspected infections, providing treatment and preventing further transmission.
Idris commended health workers whose vigilance and clinical judgment contributed to the identification of the confirmed case.
Nigeria strengthens Ebola testing capacity
The NCDC director-general disclosed that Nigeria had identified about 12 laboratories with the capacity to test for Ebola across the country.
He said laboratory preparedness was being strengthened through the provision of additional reagents and consumables needed to support diagnostic investigations.
Idris added that laboratory investigations and genetic sequencing were ongoing to provide more information about the virus and guide the country’s response.
The testing capacity is expected to support the timely investigation of suspected infections and help health authorities make informed decisions during the outbreak response.
He also recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, noting that lessons from the experience had contributed to improvements in the country’s public health infrastructure, workforce and capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases.
NCDC warns against misinformation
Idris warned that misinformation could undermine efforts to contain the outbreak by creating unnecessary panic, discouraging people from reporting symptoms and weakening public cooperation.
He urged Nigerians to obtain information from verified sources, including the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other authorised public health agencies.
The NCDC also advised members of the public to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and promptly report possible exposure to public health authorities.
Individuals who develop symptoms after a possible exposure were advised to seek guidance from health officials rather than ignore the signs or rely on unverified information.
Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, as well as contaminated materials.
The agency emphasised that prompt identification of suspected cases, appropriate infection prevention measures and cooperation with contact-tracing teams were essential to limiting transmission.
“Our immediate priority is to identify and follow up all contacts, protect healthcare workers, provide appropriate care and prevent transmission into the wider community,” Idris said.
He called for cooperation among government agencies, healthcare institutions, communities and development partners, stressing that a coordinated response would be necessary to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
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