Ebola: NCDC tracks 53 contacts, orders hospitals to isolate suspected cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified 53 contacts of Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient for monitoring and directed hospitals nationwide to promptly isolate suspected cases without waiting for laboratory confirmation.

The directive comes as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, following confirmation of an infection in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said early identification of suspected cases, prompt isolation and strict infection prevention measures were critical to preventing further transmission and protecting healthcare workers.

According to the agency’s Ebola Disease Situation Report dated October 24, the confirmed patient, a 42-year-old woman, has reportedly improved remarkably while receiving treatment in isolation.

The woman returned to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3 before developing symptoms four days later.

The 53 contacts identified by the response team include healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s spouse. They have been categorised for follow-up, with monitoring scheduled to continue for 21 days after their last possible exposure.

The NCDC said contact tracing remained a priority as public health teams worked to identify individuals who might have been exposed to the confirmed patient and monitor them for possible symptoms.

Hospitals told not to wait for laboratory results

Idris warned healthcare facilities against delaying protective measures while awaiting laboratory confirmation when Ebola is suspected.

He directed hospitals to promptly separate suspected cases from other patients, notify the relevant public health authorities and implement appropriate infection prevention and control procedures.

“The detection of this case demonstrates the importance of the surveillance systems we have continued to strengthen over the years,” the NCDC director-general said.

He stressed that early action was necessary to reduce the risk of exposure among medical personnel, patients and caregivers.

“Any suspected case must be promptly separated from other patients and reported to the relevant public health authorities. Healthcare workers should not wait for laboratory confirmation before taking appropriate precautions,” he said.

Idris added that protecting healthcare workers was essential to safeguarding the communities they serve, noting that delayed recognition of suspected infections could increase the risk of transmission within healthcare facilities.

The NCDC said hospitals should maintain effective screening and triage systems to identify patients who might have Ebola and ensure they are managed safely.

The recommended measures include regular hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, proper handling of sharps, safe waste disposal and appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

Patient developed symptoms after returning from Uganda

The confirmed case followed an alert from a private health facility on October 19, according to the NCDC situation report.

The woman reportedly developed fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria.

She presented at a private health facility on October 10 and was admitted to another private facility on October 11.

The NCDC was notified on October 19, while laboratory testing confirmed the infection on October 20.

The situation report did not indicate any bleeding in the patient’s case details.

Following confirmation, the agency activated its national incident management system at the highest level, with response activities coordinated through the Emergency Operations Centre.

The response involves the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT authorities and technical partners, with activities covering surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory investigations, infection prevention and control, risk communication and preparedness across healthcare facilities.

The agency said these coordinated efforts were aimed at identifying possible infections early, protecting healthcare workers and preventing the disease from spreading into the wider community.

Rivers suspected case tests negative

In a related development, a suspected Ebola case reported in Rivers State on October 23 tested negative, according to the NCDC situation report.

The result meant that the Rivers State alert had not resulted in another confirmed infection in the report.

However, the agency said continued surveillance and prompt investigation of suspected cases remained important to the national response.

The NCDC also urged individuals identified as contacts to cooperate with public health officials and provide accurate information needed for monitoring.

Idris cautioned against stigmatising people identified as contacts, explaining that being monitored did not automatically mean that an individual had contracted the disease.

“Being identified as a contact does not mean that you have Ebola,” he said.

The agency said contacts would be monitored for 21 days after their last possible exposure, in line with the maximum recognised incubation period for Ebola.

NCDC warns against misinformation

Idris warned that false information could undermine containment efforts by creating unnecessary fear, discouraging people from reporting symptoms and weakening public cooperation.

He urged Nigerians to rely on verified information from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other authorised public health agencies.

The director-general also recalled Nigeria’s experience in containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak, noting that lessons from the response had helped inform current preparedness and containment measures.

As part of investigations into the confirmed case, genomic sequencing was completed by the NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

The laboratory work forms part of the broader investigation being conducted alongside contact tracing and other public health activities.

Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, as well as contaminated materials.

The NCDC said prompt reporting, early isolation, effective surveillance and strict infection prevention measures remained central to containing the confirmed case and detecting any additional infections.

Idris reiterated that protecting healthcare workers and securing public cooperation were essential to the response as authorities continued monitoring identified contacts and strengthening preparedness across the country.