Ebola: Nigeria records two suspected cases, one confirmed – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), with one confirmed case, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to contain the outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the situation, explaining that the two suspected cases were recorded in the FCT and Rivers State, respectively, but the suspected case in Rivers State tested negative.

He said the confirmed case remained the only confirmed infection in the country, with 53 primary contacts identified and categorised for follow-up as part of ongoing contact-tracing activities.

According to him, the contacts include healthcare workers, domestic staff and individuals who may have been exposed to the confirmed patient, while public health teams are monitoring them for symptoms.

Idris said the national incident management system had been activated to coordinate response activities involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, FCT health authorities, other relevant government agencies and technical partners.

He assured Nigerians that the government was committed to containing the outbreak, adding that experienced personnel and established public health systems had been deployed to prevent further transmission.

“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,” he said.

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The NCDC boss explained that contact tracing remained a critical component of the response, noting that the number of contacts could change as investigations progressed and additional information became available.

He urged Nigerians identified as contacts to cooperate with public health officials by providing accurate information about their movements, contacts and any symptoms they might have experienced.

“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.

Idris said contacts would be followed up for 21 days, corresponding to the maximum incubation period for Ebola, which ranges from two to 21 days after exposure.

He added that the government was strengthening clinical management and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities, particularly in the FCT, to ensure that suspected cases were identified early, isolated safely and reported promptly to the relevant public health authorities.

He called on public and private healthcare facilities to review their infection prevention and control protocols, maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola and ensure that healthcare workers had access to appropriate personal protective equipment.

According to him, healthcare workers should take the necessary precautions immediately when they encounter a suspected case rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation before implementing protective measures.

Idris also disclosed that Nigeria had identified about 12 laboratories with the capacity to test for Ebola across the country, adding that laboratory readiness was being strengthened through the provision of additional reagents and consumables.

He said laboratory investigations and genetic sequencing were ongoing to provide further information about the virus and support the country’s response.

The NCDC director-general commended healthcare workers whose vigilance and clinical judgment contributed to the identification of the confirmed case, stressing that their safety and welfare remained priorities.

He recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, saying lessons from that experience had helped strengthen the country’s public health infrastructure, workforce and capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases.

Idris, however, warned that misinformation 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.

He also advised the public to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases, report possible exposure promptly and seek guidance from public health authorities if symptoms develop.

“Our immediate priority is to identify and follow up all contacts, protect healthcare workers, provide appropriate care and prevent transmission into the wider community,” he said.

He called for public cooperation and solidarity, stressing that containing the outbreak required the collective efforts of government agencies, healthcare institutions, communities and development partners.