Nigeria has intensified its response to Ebola as health authorities monitor 53 contacts linked to the country’s confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the contacts have been identified, categorized according to their level of exposure and placed under follow-up. They include healthcare workers, domestic staff and the spouse of the patient. Giving further details at a media briefing, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said 44 of the contacts were connected to the health facility where the patient received treatment, while nine others were identified during further investigation.
The contacts will be monitored for 21 days from their last possible exposure. This allows health officials to quickly identify symptoms and investigate any possible infection.
Dr Idris stressed that being identified as a contact does not mean the person has Ebola. Rather, monitoring is a precaution aimed at detecting potential infections early and reducing the risk of further transmission.
Nigeria confirmed the Ebola case on October 20 after laboratory testing by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory. The infection was identified as Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The patient, a 42-year-old woman who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda earlier in October, is currently receiving care in isolation. NCDC reported that her condition has improved remarkably. Meanwhile, a suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 tested negative for Ebola.
The NCDC has activated its national Incident Management System at the highest level and is strengthening surveillance, laboratory testing and infection prevention measures.
Health facilities have also been urged to strengthen screening and triage, while Nigerians are encouraged to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and rely on verified public health information.
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