The number of contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case has risen to 53, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The agency 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 a new suspected case was reported in Rivers State 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 via Addis Ababa on October 3, 2026, arriving in Abuja on an international flight.
She developed symptoms four days later and sought treatment at a private health facility on October 10 before presenting at another private facility on October 11, where she was admitted.
According to the NCDC, it was notified of the case on October 19, prompting an investigation and sample collection. The agency’s National Reference Laboratory confirmed the infection on October 20.
The patient’s symptoms included fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat. No bleeding was reported.
Meanwhile, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to containing the outbreak and preventing further transmission.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Idris said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, Federal Capital Territory health authorities and partners were working together to manage the confirmed case.
“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 government’s response was being coordinated through a structured Incident Management System led by the Emergency Operations Centre, under the national leadership of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, and the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
He explained that public health teams were identifying people who might have been exposed to the confirmed case, assessing their level of exposure and monitoring their health for 21 days after their last possible exposure.
Those being traced include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, household members, travel-related contacts and others who may have had relevant contact with the patient.
Describing contact tracing as a detailed process requiring careful investigation, accurate information and consistent follow-up, 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 health assessments and monitoring to detect any possible infection early.
“Your cooperation will help us identify potential cases quickly and prevent further transmission,” he added.
NCDC commends healthcare workers
Idris commended healthcare workers whose vigilance and clinical judgement helped identify the case, noting that their high index of suspicion was critical in triggering the public health response.
“I equally recognise their dedication and care under challenging circumstances. You are central to our ability to bring this situation under control,” he 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.
The NCDC chief said the Federal Government would prioritise the safety, health and welfare of healthcare workers throughout the response.
He also called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to review and strengthen their infection prevention and control measures immediately.
Idris urged facilities to consistently implement patient screening and triage procedures and maintain a high index of suspicion when treating patients with compatible symptoms and relevant exposure histories.
He further emphasised the importance of strict adherence to standard precautions, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, safe handling of sharps and proper waste disposal.
Healthcare facilities, he said, must also ensure adequate supplies of appropriate personal protective equipment and train staff to use it correctly.
Idris stressed that suspected cases must be promptly isolated from other patients and reported to the relevant public health authorities, warning that healthcare workers should not wait for laboratory confirmation before taking appropriate precautions.
“Protecting healthcare workers is essential to protecting the communities they serve,” he said.
