The Federal Government has increased the number of identified contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 44 to 53, as health authorities step up surveillance and prevention measures to stop further transmission.
The government has also approved emergency payments of ₦100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine to help cover feeding, accommodation and family expenses during the monitoring period.
Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the developments during a briefing in Abuja, saying all 53 contacts had been identified, categorized and placed under monitoring.
The contacts include healthcare workers, the patient’s husband, domestic staff and other people who may have been exposed to the virus. Idris said contact tracing was continuing and the number could change as investigations progressed.
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on 20-10-2026. The NCDC chief said the country still had only one confirmed case, while two additional suspected cases had been investigated.
A suspected case in Rivers State tested negative, while another suspected case in the FCT was still under investigation. No identified contact had tested positive, he said, adding that the FCT remained the only state with a confirmed infection.
Idris explained that being listed as a contact did not mean a person had contracted Ebola. Instead, it meant health officials needed to monitor the individual’s condition and identify any infection as early as possible.
He urged people contacted by public health teams to cooperate and provide accurate information about their movements, interactions and any symptoms they might have experienced.
Patient remains under treatment as laboratory capacity expands
Idris said the confirmed patient remained under treatment at an isolation facility. Samples collected from her on three occasions had tested positive, while a sample from her husband returned a negative result.
He added that two laboratory facilities had completed genetic sequencing of the virus to establish its characteristics, with the findings being shared with health authorities in Uganda.
The NCDC has also strengthened the country’s testing capacity, with between nine and 12 public and private laboratories equipped to test for Ebola. Testing for the confirmed case was being conducted at the National Reference Laboratory, while additional reagents and supplies had been distributed across the laboratory network.
The national incident management system has been activated at the highest level, bringing together the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT health authorities, other government agencies and technical partners to coordinate the response.
Idris said arrangements were in place to accommodate additional cases if necessary, while isolation and quarantine facilities had been established for contacts requiring closer supervision.
He explained that the weekly ₦100,000 support was approved after concerns were raised about the cost of maintaining people in isolation or quarantine.
The government is also strengthening passenger screening at international airports, working with aviation authorities, immigration, customs and other relevant agencies. Health declaration forms are now required for passengers arriving in Nigeria from all countries, Idris said.
NCDC urges hospitals to strengthen infection control
The NCDC director-general called on public and private healthcare facilities to reinforce infection prevention measures, including patient screening, triage, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, safe injection practices and proper disposal of medical waste.
He urged healthcare workers to take precautions whenever patients present symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly where there is a relevant exposure history, without waiting for laboratory confirmation before acting.
Idris also advised Nigerians to wash their hands regularly, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and report possible exposure promptly to public health authorities.
Anyone who develops symptoms after a possible exposure should contact health officials and follow their instructions before visiting a healthcare facility.
He urged the public to remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and avoid circulating unverified information as investigations continue.
Lagos intensifies airport screening, reports no suspected case
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has strengthened Ebola surveillance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and other points of entry following confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain infection in Abuja.
The state government said no suspected Ebola case had been reported in Lagos but urged residents to remain vigilant and seek medical guidance if they develop symptoms, particularly after travelling from areas reporting transmission.
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed the measures in a statement issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Health. He said the state was expanding surveillance, public awareness and coordination with relevant agencies to improve early detection and response.
The ministry’s Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health had conducted an assessment and engagement with airport management, Port Health Services and other aviation and public health stakeholders.
The discussions focused on passenger screening, information sharing, infection prevention and control, and coordination of emergency responses.
The state also launched public awareness efforts to educate residents about Ebola symptoms, transmission and prevention, while urging them to rely on verified information rather than rumours.
Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, contaminated materials or the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Infection may also occur through contact with infected animals.
Symptoms include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may occur in some cases. Symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure, and early signs may resemble malaria or other common illnesses.
Abayomi advised residents who develop fever to take a malaria rapid diagnostic test before using antimalarial medicines, in line with the state’s fever-management policy. Where the test is negative, a healthcare professional should assess other possible causes and recommend appropriate treatment.
Travellers arriving from areas reporting Ebola transmission were urged to provide accurate travel and health information and comply with guidance from Port Health Services.
Anyone who suspects exposure or develops symptoms during travel or after arrival should contact public health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility.
Residents can report suspected cases or exposure concerns through Lagos emergency numbers 112 or 767, or contact the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health on 0802 316 9485.
The state government said it would continue monitoring developments and provide verified updates as necessary, stressing that early detection and prompt reporting were essential to preventing further transmission.
Zamfara activates surveillance after passenger records fever
In Zamfara State, authorities have activated Ebola surveillance at Gusau airport and major motor parks after a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia was found to have a body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
Commissioner for Health Nafisa Maradun disclosed the development while leading a medical team to launch passenger screening at the airport over the weekend.
Maradun said the passenger, an indigene of Zamfara, was identified during screening and referred for further medical assessment. The reported fever prompted precautionary measures, but the information provided did not establish that the passenger had Ebola.
The state has deployed medical personnel to the airport, motor parks and other entry points to screen travellers and support the early identification of suspected cases.
Maradun urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with health officials. The state Ministry of Health has also directed public and private healthcare facilities, disease surveillance officers and local government health authorities to strengthen preparedness, improve screening and report suspected cases promptly.
The government is working with agencies including the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service to reinforce surveillance at entry points. Transport workers are also expected to help identify and report passengers who may require medical assessment.
The measures in the FCT, Lagos and Zamfara form part of wider efforts to detect possible infections early, monitor people who may have been exposed and prevent the spread of Ebola while investigations into Nigeria’s confirmed case continue.
