The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it is continuing to monitor 28 of the 62 contacts identified following an imported case of Ebola disease in the country.
In a national health security update released on Tuesday, the Director-General of the agency, Jide Idris, disclosed that 34 of the contacts had completed their mandatory 21-day follow-up.
Idris said the NCDC had activated measures to contain the disease in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state authorities and development partners.
He explained that the response involved contact tracing, investigation of reported alerts, laboratory testing, infection prevention, safe clinical care and surveillance at points of entry.
“As of 9 November 2026, Nigeria had confirmed only one imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, with no additional confirmed cases,” he said.
“We continue to investigate reported alerts and maintain heightened surveillance across the country to ensure that suspected cases are promptly identified and investigated.
“A total of 62 contacts have been identified. Of these, 34 have completed their individual 21-day follow-up, while the remaining 28 are still under monitoring.”
Idris reiterated that the agency was investigating reported alerts and maintaining heightened surveillance nationwide to ensure suspected cases were identified and investigated promptly.
He clarified that being identified as a contact did not mean an individual had contracted the virus.
According to him, the 21-day follow-up period allows health officials to detect symptoms early and take appropriate action.
The NCDC chief also stressed that the monitoring period for individual contacts should not be confused with the number of days since the first case was confirmed.
Background
Earlier in November, the NCDC said it expected to conclude the monitoring of all 62 contacts traced to the imported Ebola case 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 said.
In October, the Federal Government announced a confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, said 44 close contacts had initially been identified for tracing to prevent further transmission.
According to the minister, the patient, a woman who had recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
Nigeria’s index Ebola patient was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment.
On October 31, the NCDC announced that two suspected cases of Ebola disease had been identified in the North-East.