- Get N100,000 weekly stipends
- Rivers suspected case test negative
The number of people being monitored following Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has risen from 44 to 53, as the Federal Government intensifies contact tracing, strengthens hospital preparedness and introduces emergency financial support for people placed in isolation or quarantine.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed the increase during an update on the country’s Ebola response at a press conference on Sunday, explaining that the contact-tracing exercise remained ongoing and that the number could change as investigations progressed.
The development represents nine additional contacts identified since the earlier update even though the increase does not mean that nine more people have contracted the virus, as contacts are individuals who may have been exposed and require monitoring.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, told journalists that the government was coordinating efforts with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT health authorities, other relevant agencies and partners to prevent further transmission.
He appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with health officials, provide accurate information and avoid spreading unverified reports capable of undermining the response.
Idris explained that contact tracing was a critical part of containing Ebola because it enabled health authorities to identify people who might have been exposed, monitor them for symptoms and ensure that suspected infections were detected promptly.
“The monitoring period is 21 days after the last possible exposure. The contacts identified so far include people whose links to the confirmed case require assessment, such as healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, household members and other individuals who may have come into contact with the patient,” he said.
He stressed that being listed as a contact did not mean that a person had contracted Ebola, urging affected individuals to remain in communication with health authorities and comply with monitoring arrangements.
In a related development, the NCDC has approved emergency financial support of N100,000 per person weekly for people placed in isolation or quarantine as part of efforts to contain the outbreak in the FCT.
Idris said the intervention became necessary after some people under monitoring complained about the cost of feeding, accommodation and meeting their families’ needs while complying with public health instructions.
“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families.
“We are providing N100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,” he said.
According to the NCDC chief, the financial arrangement was not part of the initial response plan but was introduced in response to the difficulties raised by people affected by the containment measures.
“However, we would continue to review the arrangement as the response progressed.
“The support is intended to ease the burden on affected individuals and encourage compliance with the monitoring and isolation measures required to limit the risk of transmission,” he said.
He restated that health authorities have repeatedly emphasised that cooperation from people identified during contact tracing is essential, stressing that failure to provide accurate information or comply with monitoring requirements could make it more difficult to identify potential cases promptly.
Nigeria’s confirmed case involves a 42-year-old woman who returned from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3.
According to the NCDC’s situation report, her symptoms began on October 7, and she sought medical attention at private health facilities before the agency was notified on October 19.
Laboratory confirmation followed on October 20, after which the national response was intensified.
The patient is being treated in isolation and has reportedly improved remarkably. The confirmed infection is from the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus.
The NCDC said healthcare workers’ recognition of the patient’s clinical presentation and the activation of event-based surveillance helped trigger the investigation.
The case has also prompted renewed calls for hospitals and other health facilities to maintain a high level of vigilance.
Idris said experienced clinicians and case managers, including personnel with experience from Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola response, have been involved in strengthening clinical management.
He explained that the country was drawing on lessons from its previous experience to improve coordination, early detection and public communication.
Meanwhile, the NCDC has called on hospitals nationwide to strengthen screening and triage, prepare isolation areas and strictly enforce infection prevention and control procedures.
It said health facilities must pay particular attention to hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, sharps disposal, medical waste management and the availability and proper use of personal protective equipment.
NCDC boss urged healthcare workers to isolate and report suspected cases promptly, stressing that precautions should not be delayed while waiting for laboratory confirmation where the clinical and exposure history raises concern.
He said the directive was intended to reduce the risk of infections being missed at the point of care and to protect health workers, patients and other people within healthcare settings.
“The agency is also strengthening surveillance and laboratory testing while coordinating with relevant authorities to improve the detection and investigation of suspected cases.
“The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has been assessed as an isolation and treatment centre, while efforts are being made to improve isolation capacity at Karu General Hospital.
“The NCDC and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) have also completed phylogenetic sequencing as part of the investigation.
In addition, 500 donated laboratory testing kits have been added to the country’s stockpile.
“These measures are part of broader efforts to improve the country’s ability to identify, investigate and respond to possible infections,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NCDC’s situation report indicated that a suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 tested negative for Ebola.
It said the result provides an example of the importance of prompt testing and investigation, as symptoms that raise suspicion may ultimately be caused by other illnesses.
The agency maintained that surveillance must remain active beyond the location of the confirmed case, with health facilities and relevant authorities expected to report suspected infections without delay.
“Although the confirmed case is in the FCT, the national response requires coordination across states to ensure that possible cases are identified and assessed quickly,” it said.
The NCDC thus urged Nigerians not to interpret every suspected case as a confirmed infection, while also warning against complacency.
Idris said clear, accurate information was essential to the response, warning that misinformation and stigma could discourage people from reporting symptoms, disclosing possible exposure or cooperating with contact tracers.
He urged members of the public to obtain information from official government and public health channels rather than rely on unverified messages circulating on social media.
The NCDC also advised people to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola and promptly report possible exposure to health authorities.
“Anyone who develops symptoms after a possible exposure should contact health officials for guidance before visiting a health facility, where possible, so that appropriate precautions can be arranged,” he insisted.
People identified as contacts were also urged to cooperate fully with monitoring teams and provide accurate information about their movements and possible exposures.
The agency said these measures, alongside early detection, effective isolation and strict infection prevention procedures, would help reduce the risk of further transmission.
Nigeria’s experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak demonstrated the importance of rapid identification, coordinated response and public cooperation.
The NCDC said those lessons remain relevant as authorities work to contain the current case.
With 53 contacts identified for monitoring, the government said its immediate priority remains to trace possible exposures, monitor affected individuals through the required period and ensure that any suspected infection is investigated without delay.
The NCDC said it would continue to provide updates as more information becomes available, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant, cooperate with public health authorities and avoid actions that could undermine containment efforts.
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