The number of people identified as contacts of Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case has risen to 53, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said.
The contacts include healthcare workers, domestic staff and the spouse of the 42-year-old woman diagnosed with the disease.
In its Ebola Disease Situation Report dated October 24, 2026, the NCDC disclosed that Rivers State reported a suspected case on October 23, but laboratory tests returned negative for Ebola.
“Fifty-three contacts linked to the index case have so far been identified, categorised and followed up. Contacts listed include healthcare workers, domestic staff and spouse,” the report stated.
Providing details of the confirmed case, the agency said the woman returned to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3, 2026, arriving in Abuja on an international flight.
She reportedly developed symptoms four days after her arrival and sought treatment at a private health facility on October 10 before presenting at another facility the following day.
“She presented to another private facility on the 11th of October 2026, where she was admitted. The NCDC was notified on the 19th of October, followed by in-depth case investigation and sample collection,” the report said.
The NCDC National Reference Laboratory confirmed the infection on October 20.
According to the agency, the woman presented with fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat. However, no bleeding was reported.
Meanwhile, the NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, has assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, Federal Capital Territory health authorities and partners, is committed to containing the outbreak.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Idris acknowledged public concerns following the confirmation of the case but said the authorities were responding urgently.
“I recognise the concern that the confirmation of Ebola may have caused among Nigerians. Ebola is a serious disease, and we are handling this situation with the urgency it deserves,” he said.
“We have a clear response plan, experienced personnel, and established public health systems that we are deploying to prevent further transmission.”
What Nigerians Should Expect
Idris said the response was being coordinated through a structured Incident Management System, led by the Emergency Operations Centre, under the national leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease.
He explained that public health teams were working to identify people who might have been exposed to the confirmed case, assess their level of exposure and monitor their health for 21 days after their last possible exposure.
The exercise covers healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, household members, travel-related contacts and other people who may have had relevant exposure to the patient.
Describing contact tracing as a detailed process that requires thorough investigation, accurate information and continuous monitoring, Idris urged Nigerians to cooperate with public health officials.
“I want to appeal directly to Nigerians: if you are contacted by a public health official, please cooperate fully. Provide accurate information about your movements, contacts, and any symptoms you may have experienced,” he said.
He stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean a person had contracted Ebola but indicated the need for assessment and monitoring.
“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. Your cooperation will help us identify potential cases quickly and prevent further transmission,” Idris added.
NCDC Commends Healthcare Workers
The NCDC director-general commended healthcare workers whose vigilance and clinical judgement contributed to the identification of the confirmed case.
He said their high index of suspicion was crucial in triggering the public health response.
“I equally recognise their dedicated care under challenging circumstances. You are central to our ability to bring this situation under control,” Idris said.
He noted that the response involved not only doctors, nurses and other hospital professionals but also public health personnel responsible for surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis, case management, infection prevention and control, community engagement and risk communication.
Idris said the Nigerian Government would prioritise the safety, health and welfare of healthcare workers throughout the response.
He also urged the management of public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to review and strengthen their infection prevention and control measures immediately.
According to him, healthcare facilities must consistently implement screening and triage procedures while ensuring that medical personnel remain alert to symptoms compatible with Ebola, particularly when patients have relevant exposure histories.
He emphasised that standard precautions, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, safe handling of sharps and proper waste management, must be maintained at all times.
Healthcare facilities were also advised to ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment was available in sufficient quantities and that staff were properly trained to use it.
Idris further stressed that suspected Ebola cases 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 added.