Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that it expects to complete monitoring of 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed imported Ebola case by November 13, 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency disclosed this in its latest Ebola Disease Situation Report published on Thursday, October 29, noting that the contacts were scheduled to complete their follow-up at different intervals between October 31 and November 13.
According to the report, “Contacts are expected to complete follow-up by November. Expected completion dates range from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2026.”
The NCDC said contact tracing and monitoring activities were ongoing, adding that additional contact tracers had been identified and trained to strengthen surveillance.
It also disclosed plans to assess additional contacts for possible evacuation to quarantine facilities while continuing to monitor individuals already in quarantine.
The agency said it had reviewed and expanded its strategy for identifying contacts, alongside Ebola disease case definitions, to improve the identification and management of suspected infections.
On laboratory investigations, the NCDC reported that 18 samples had been tested since the outbreak was confirmed, with one positive result and 17 negative results.
The positive sample was from the index patient, while the negative samples comprised 15 collected from contacts of the confirmed patient and two from suspected cases.
The agency also confirmed that phylogenetic sequencing had been completed by its National Reference Laboratory in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID).
Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola disease in the current outbreak on October 20, following the detection of the Bundibugyo strain in a woman who travelled to the country from Uganda.
The patient, who was initially admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 for further medical treatment.
The NCDC said it had activated the National Incident Management System under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to coordinate the national response.
It added that an Incident Action Plan had been finalised, while measures were being strengthened across surveillance, laboratory investigations, case management and infection prevention.
The agency also disclosed plans to expand Ebola testing capacity to Lagos while maintaining uninterrupted testing at the National Reference Laboratory.
It further said the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital had been assessed for its readiness to serve as an isolation and treatment centre, while a dedicated ambulance had been secured for the safe referral of suspected cases.
NCDC said it would continue surveillance, contact tracing and coordination with relevant partners to prevent further transmission of the disease.
