The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 53 people linked to the country’s confirmed Ebola case are being monitored, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s husband.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the figures on Sunday, October 25, during a briefing in Abuja on efforts to contain the outbreak.
According to Idris, 44 of the identified contacts were linked to the health facility where the patient received treatment, while nine others had potential exposure through household contact, an earlier medical visit or sample collection.
He said none of the identified contacts had tested positive for Ebola or developed symptoms as of the briefing. Public health teams are continuing to monitor them for 21 days after their last possible exposure.
Nigeria confirmed its first case in the current outbreak on October 20, involving a 42-year-old woman who returned from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3. She developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at private health facilities before the infection was confirmed.
The NCDC said a separate suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 tested negative for Ebola.
Idris said the government had activated a coordinated response involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, FCT health authorities and other partners. Measures include contact tracing, laboratory testing, isolation and strengthened infection prevention in healthcare facilities.
He urged Nigerians contacted by public health officials to cooperate with monitoring teams and provide accurate information about their movements and possible exposure.
The NCDC stressed that being identified as a contact does not mean a person has Ebola. Monitoring is intended to detect possible infections early and prevent further transmission.
The agency has also called on public and private healthcare facilities to strengthen screening, hygiene practices and the proper use of personal protective equipment while responding promptly to suspected cases.