…As identified contacts rise to 53
…Reactivates airport screening nationwide
…Considers N100.000 stipends for contacts under quarantine for only one week

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified one new suspected case of Ebola Virus in Rivers State, which has tested negative.

Meanwhile, a total of 53 contacts have been identified and placed under public health surveillance, with most of them under quarantine.

However, following threats by some of the contacts under quarantine to leave the isolation centre, the NCDC is considering the payment of a N100,000.00 stipend to each of the contacts under quarantine only to support the affected contacts during the monitoring period.

The intervention, according to the agency is designed to ease the burden of complying with public health measures and encourage cooperation.

Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris who disclosed this during a media briefing on Sunday in Abuja Idris stated the index patient’s samples had been tested repeatedly and remained positive, while samples from the patient’s husband returned negative results.

He revealed that Nigeria had recorded only one confirmed case, one suspected case, with 53 primary contacts identified and being monitored.

He explained that the FCT remains the only state with a confirmed case, while no contact had tested positive adding that one contact who reportedly felt unwell had been tested and returned a negative result.

The DG noted that the Federal Government had activated a coordinated national response to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission

Idris stated that the identified contacts included healthcare workers, domestic staff, the patient’s spouse and other individuals who might have been exposed during the course of medical care, sample collection or other relevant interactions.

He explained that contact tracing was ongoing and that the number of contacts could change as investigations progressed and public health officials verified additional information.

He said, ” A major priority for the NCDC is identifying and monitoring everyone who may have been exposed to the confirmed case.The contacts include healthcare workers at the facility where the patient is being managed, personnel involved in collecting samples, domestic staff and individuals within the patient’s immediate circle.

“Under established Ebola response protocols, contacts are monitored for 21 days from their last possible exposure, reflecting the maximum recognised incubation period of the disease.53 primary contacts have been listed and categorised for follow-up, with health officials monitoring them according to their level of exposure”.

The NCDC boss explained that identifying someone as a contact did not mean that the individual had contracted Ebola.

Rather, he said, the process was a preventive measure to detect symptoms promptly, arrange testing where necessary and interrupt possible transmission chains.

He added that the NCDC would continue to monitor contacts and arrange testing for anyone who developed symptoms.

Idris also revealed that some contacts had been accommodated at a designated facility while under monitoring. The government was providing accommodation and feeding, with financial support being reviewed to address the practical difficulties faced by those required to remain away from their homes and daily activities.

He disclosed that the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has been designated as the isolation and treatment centre for the current response, with preparations undertaken to ensure it can accommodate patients who may require specialised care.

Idris said the facility had been assessed and its readiness strengthened, while experienced clinicians and case managers were being mobilised to support patient management.

In a significant step to strengthen border surveillance, Idris noted that Nigeria is strengthening surveillance at its international gateways following the outbreak any announced the reversal of an earlier directive that had limited the scope of health declaration procedures for international arrivals.

He noted that the centre is returning to a broader screening approach covering passengers arriving from all countries, with port health services working alongside the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), immigration, customs and other relevant agencies.

The measures, he said, were intended to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to identify possible infections early and prevent the virus from spreading into the wider community.

Idris identified Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt as the five international airports around which port health services and other relevant agencies were coordinating preparedness and screening activities.

He said the authorities had previously adjusted passenger health declaration procedures during a period of reduced international activity, but the emergence of the confirmed case had prompted a reassessment.

Idris stressed that the NCDC had now reversed that directive, with plans to extend the health screening and declaration process to passengers arriving from all countries.

According to him, the implementation would involve close collaboration with aviation regulators, airport authorities, airlines, immigration and customs officials.

He noted that effective border surveillance depended on coordination because different agencies exercised different responsibilities at airports and land borders.

The renewed screening measures are intended to improve the identification of travellers who may require further assessment based on symptoms, travel history or possible exposure.

He however, underscored that surveillance at entry points must work alongside community-based detection, laboratory testing and contact tracing.

In a bid to reassure Nigerians amid public concern, Idris said the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, FCT health authorities and their partners, are responding to the situation with urgency.

“Ebola is a serious disease, and we are handling this situation with the urgency it deserves,” he said, adding that the country had a clear response plan, experienced personnel and an established public health system to manage the threat.

He said the national response had been activated under an Incident Management System, with coordination involving relevant government agencies, technical partners and public health experts.

According to him, the response is focused on surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis, clinical management, infection prevention and control, community engagement and public risk communication.

Idris stressed that the response would continue to evolve as field investigations yielded more information, noting that public health emergencies required constant assessment and adjustments based on evidence.

He appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with health officials, provide accurate information when contacted and avoid spreading unverified reports that could undermine containment efforts.

He emphasised that the Federal Government’s response was not intended to be restricted to the FCT, adding that similar support and preparedness arrangements would be required in other states if the situation warranted them.

To strengthen diagnostic readiness, Idris observed that NCDC has mobilised laboratory resources and positioned additional reagents and other essential supplies across its national laboratory network.

He noted that Nigeria had between nine and 12 laboratories with the capacity to test for Ebola, although testing was being coordinated to ensure appropriate quality assurance and a broader geographical distribution of diagnostic capacity.

The NCDC also conducted genetic sequencing to characterise the virus, using facilities at its National Reference Laboratory and a private laboratory in Enugu.

According to Idris, the sequencing results from the two facilities were consistent, and the information was being used to support further technical discussions and information-sharing with international public health counterparts.

He said additional laboratory reagents and commodities were being distributed to strengthen readiness across the country, with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The NCDC, he added, would continue to strengthen diagnostic capacity so that suspected infections could be investigated and confirmed promptly.

He said the response was also drawing on professionals who participated in Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

The NCDC director-general described infection prevention and control as a critical component of the response, particularly in protecting healthcare workers and preventing infections within hospitals.

He called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to immediately review their screening procedures, triage systems, isolation arrangements and protective measures.

Healthcare workers, he said, must maintain a high index of suspicion when assessing patients with compatible symptoms and relevant exposure histories.

They must also observe standard precautions, including regular hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, safe handling of sharps and proper medical waste disposal.

Idris warned that appropriate personal protective equipment must be available in sufficient quantities and that healthcare workers must be trained to use it correctly.

He stressed that suspected cases must be separated promptly from other patients and reported to public health authorities without waiting for laboratory confirmation before taking appropriate precautions.

Idris added that the NCDC has commenced training and practical guidance for healthcare workers and personnel involved in contact tracing and infection prevention.

He urged Nigerians to distinguish between suspected cases, confirmed infections and individuals identified as contacts, warning that conflating the categories could create unnecessary fear.

The NCDC, he said, would provide updates as investigations progressed and verified information became available.

He added that the national response plan had been finalised and was being discussed with partners to coordinate support for identified priorities.

Preparedness activities were also being strengthened in states considered at higher risk, although the FCT remained the only state with a confirmed case in the report he presented.

For Idris, the current response carries particular significance because of Nigeria’s experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

He recalled the uncertainty and difficult decisions that accompanied that episode, praising the commitment of healthcare workers and the cooperation of the public in helping Nigeria contain the disease.

Idris stated that the experience had reinforced the importance of early detection, coordinated leadership, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and public trust.

He noted that Nigeria since then had continued to develop its public health workforce, surveillance systems, laboratory capacity and outbreak response mechanisms.

The NCDC boss acknowledged that the current information environment presents a different challenge, with rumours and misinformation spreading rapidly through online platforms and other communication channels.

He warned that false reports could provoke panic, discourage people from reporting symptoms and undermine the cooperation needed to contain infectious diseases.

He therefore urged the public to rely on verified updates from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other authorised public health agencies.

Idris also cautioned against stigmatising patients, contacts, healthcare workers or affected communities.

He pointed out that as part of efforts to improve early detection beyond hospitals, the NCDC has revised the Ebola case definition to strengthen community-based surveillance.

Idris said the revised guidance was intended to help community members and frontline health workers recognise symptoms that might require investigation and prompt reporting.

He urged people to seek immediate guidance from public health authorities if they experienced concerning symptoms after possible exposure.

Idris also advised people to avoid direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola and not to provide care to a suspected patient without appropriate protective measures.

“Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should report the circumstances promptly, even if they feel well.Those who develop symptoms following a possible exposure should contact public health authorities and follow their instructions before visiting a healthcare facility, allowing appropriate precautions to be arranged”.

According to him, the agency is also strengthening community engagement and social listening to identify rumours, understand public concerns and correct misinformation.

Idris said risk communication would remain a central part of the response, with regular updates issued as information was verified.

The NCDC boss appealed to Nigerians to remain calm without becoming complacent, stressing that public cooperation would be decisive in preventing further transmission.

He urged individuals, families, community leaders, professional associations, civil society groups, private organisations and development partners to support the national response.

“Regular hand washing with soap and running water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, avoidance of direct contact with bodily fluids, prompt reporting of possible exposure and cooperation with contact tracing teams were among the practical steps he recommended”.

He also urged Nigerians to provide truthful information to public health officials and refrain from circulating unverified claims.

“Our immediate priority is to identify and follow up all contacts, protect healthcare workers, provide appropriate care, and prevent transmission into the wider community,” Idris said.

He maintained that Nigeria had the experience and public health structures required to respond effectively, but warned that government action alone would not be sufficient.

He emphasized that the success of the response would depend on the ability of health authorities to detect infections early, protect frontline workers, trace contacts comprehensively and sustain public confidence.