Nigeria has recorded no additional confirmed Ebola infection since detecting an imported case of the Bundibugyo virus disease, but health authorities are still monitoring 28 people who had contact with the infected traveller.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed that 34 of the 62 contacts identified during the outbreak response had completed their individual 21-day monitoring period as of November 9, while the remaining 28 were still under surveillance.
The latest update indicates that although the country has not recorded another confirmed infection, public health officials are maintaining close watch on those who may have been exposed to the virus.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said Nigeria had confirmed only one imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, with no additional confirmed infections as of November 9.
He explained that the agency was continuing contact tracing, investigating reported alerts, conducting laboratory tests and strengthening infection prevention measures as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
The response is being coordinated with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state authorities and development partners.
Idris cautioned Nigerians against assuming that everyone placed under surveillance had contracted Ebola, explaining that being identified as a contact did not amount to a positive diagnosis.
He said the 21-day follow-up period was designed to enable health teams to identify symptoms early and take appropriate action where necessary.
The NCDC chief also clarified that the 21 days since Nigeria confirmed its first case should not be confused with the individual monitoring period for each contact. Each person’s follow-up is calculated separately.
Nigeria confirmed the imported infection in October after a woman who travelled from Uganda tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The patient had received treatment at a private hospital in the FCT before being evacuated to Switzerland for further medical care.
The Federal Government had initially disclosed that 44 close contacts were identified for tracing following confirmation of the infection. The number subsequently rose to 62 as health authorities expanded their contact-tracing activities.
The surveillance exercise has also involved investigations into suspected infections in other parts of the country. Two suspected cases identified in Adamawa State in October were later ruled out after laboratory tests returned negative results.
Meanwhile, the NCDC has maintained heightened surveillance at the country’s points of entry and urged healthcare workers to remain alert, obtain patients’ travel and exposure histories, and promptly report suspected cases.
The agency has also advised anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure to avoid contact with other people and call its toll-free line, 6232, for guidance before travelling to a health facility.
The latest figures show that Nigeria’s immediate challenge is to complete the monitoring of the remaining contacts without allowing a possible infection to go undetected. The agency had earlier projected that follow-up for all identified contacts would be completed by November 13, although surveillance and investigations are expected to continue.
For now, the NCDC says the country has one confirmed imported case and no additional confirmed infections. The 28 people still being monitored have not been confirmed to have Ebola, and health authorities say the surveillance process remains a precautionary public health measure.