By Daily Review Online
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that monitoring of all 62 contacts identified following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the country is expected to be completed by November 13, 2026.
The agency disclosed this in its latest Ebola Disease Situation Report obtained by Channels Television on Monday, November 2.
According to the report, the identified contacts are scheduled to complete their monitoring at different times between October 31 and November 13.
Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola disease in the current outbreak on October 20, following laboratory tests that detected the Bundibugyo virus in a woman who travelled to the country from Uganda.
The development makes November 13 the latest projected date for completing the monitoring of all contacts currently identified in connection with the confirmed case.
However, the NCDC said contact tracing and surveillance activities were continuing, with additional contact tracers identified and trained to strengthen the country’s response.
The agency also disclosed plans to identify and assess more contacts for possible evacuation to quarantine facilities while maintaining follow-up on those already in quarantine.
It said a high-level stakeholders’ meeting had been held with partner agencies to improve coordination, resource mobilisation and accountability in managing the outbreak.
18 Samples Tested, One Positive
On laboratory investigations, the NCDC disclosed that 18 samples had been tested since the outbreak was confirmed, with one returning positive and 17 negative results.
The positive result was from the index patient, while the negative samples comprised 15 collected from contacts of the confirmed case and two from suspected cases.
The agency said laboratory confirmation was achieved on October 20, while phylogenetic sequencing was completed by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID).
It added that the strategy for identifying contacts had been reviewed and expanded, while Ebola disease case definitions were also updated to improve the identification and management of suspected infections.
The NCDC further outlined plans to review guidelines on contact tracing, self-quarantine, self-care kits and emergency response protocols.
It also intends to develop an Ebola disease dashboard on the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) to strengthen contact management.
NCDC Strengthens Emergency Response
The agency said the National Incident Management System had been activated under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
It added that the Incident Action Plan had been finalised and prioritised response activities were being implemented across relevant sectors.
The NCDC also disclosed that standard operating procedures and job aids covering sample reception, molecular detection and genomic sequencing had been validated.
To strengthen laboratory capacity, the agency said it would maintain uninterrupted Ebola testing at the National Reference Laboratory and expand testing capacity to Lagos.
It also plans to distribute additional laboratory reagents and supplies across the national network of laboratories.
On case management, the agency disclosed that an inspection and assessment of the isolation centre had been conducted, while the medical evacuation of the index patient was supervised with measures to protect healthcare workers.
It said the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital had been engaged on its readiness to serve as an isolation and treatment centre, following the completion of a needs assessment and facility optimisation.
The NCDC also confirmed that a dedicated ambulance had been secured and placed on standby for safe referral of suspected patients.
As part of its infection prevention and control measures, the agency said assessments had been conducted across states and health facilities, while healthcare workers were receiving sensitisation on appropriate safety procedures.
It also plans to strengthen screening and isolation through an infection prevention and control ring strategy and assess additional isolation capacity at Karu General Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
Patient Evacuated to Switzerland
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the index patient developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria.
She reportedly sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11 before her infection was confirmed on October 20.
The confirmation made Nigeria the fifth country to detect the virus since the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, 2026.
The patient was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 for further medical care, alongside her husband, who was identified as a close contact.
The NCDC said it would continue strengthening surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and preparedness measures to prevent further transmission of the disease.