EBOLA: NCDC MONITORS 28 CONTACTS, 34 COMPLETE 21-DAY FOLLOW-UP
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 28 people linked to the country’s imported Ebola case are still under monitoring, while 34 others have completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in the agency’s national health security update released on Tuesday.
Idris said Nigeria had recorded only one confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease as of November 9, 2026, with no additional confirmed cases.
“As of 9 November 2026, Nigeria had confirmed only one imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, with no additional confirmed cases,” he said.
He added that the agency was continuing to investigate reported alerts and maintain heightened surveillance across the country to ensure that suspected cases were promptly identified and investigated.
According to him, 62 contacts had been identified, with 34 completing their individual 21-day follow-up, while the remaining 28 were still being monitored.
The NCDC chief clarified that being identified as a contact did not automatically mean that an individual had contracted the virus.
He explained that the 21-day monitoring period was designed to help health officials detect possible symptoms early and initiate appropriate medical interventions.
Idris also cautioned against confusing the monitoring period for individual contacts with the total number of days since the index case was confirmed.
Earlier in November, the NCDC projected that surveillance of all 62 contacts traced to the imported case would be concluded by November 13.
“Contacts are expected to complete follow-up by November. Expected completion dates range from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2026,” the agency had said.
The Federal Government announced the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory in October.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, had said 44 close contacts were initially identified for tracing as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
Pate disclosed that the index patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria aboard an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the disease was confirmed.
The patient was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland for further medical care.
On October 31, the NCDC also announced the identification of two suspected Ebola cases in the North-East, prompting further surveillance and investigation.
Idris said Nigeria had continued to strengthen its response through coordinated efforts involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state authorities and development partners.
He listed the response measures to include contact tracing, investigation of reported alerts, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, safe clinical care and surveillance at points of entry.
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