News Investigators/ The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s imported Bundibugyo Virus Disease case have completed 21-day monitoring without secondary transmission.
The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, said this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference, saying the last contact was discharged after completing the mandatory monitoring period.
Mr Idris said 13 of the 62 contacts developed fever or other symptoms during monitoring but tested negative for Bundibugyo Virus Disease following laboratory investigations.
He said seven additional alerts reported in Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Ekiti within three weeks were investigated, with all suspected cases testing negative after laboratory assessment.
The NCDC boss, however, cautioned that completing contact monitoring did not constitute a formal declaration that Nigeria was free of the disease, emphasising that surveillance remained necessary.
He said such a declaration would depend on applicable public health criteria and findings from ongoing surveillance, particularly amid continued Ebola transmission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Idris said Nigeria had maintained heightened surveillance, with its National Emergency Operations Centre activated and Incident Management System operating at Level Three, the highest response level for Ebola.
He said the national response prioritised clinical care, contact tracing, prevention of further transmission, protection of healthcare workers and strengthening disease surveillance across affected and potentially exposed communities nationwide.
According to him, the index case was confirmed on Oct. 20 in the Federal Capital Territory following an alert raised by healthcare workers through NCDC’s event-based surveillance system.
He said the early alert enabled the NCDC, FCT health authorities and other relevant institutions to promptly initiate investigations and establish an incident management structure for coordinated response activities.
Mr Idris said contact tracing covered healthcare facilities, households and other relevant settings, while identified contacts were assessed according to their exposure and monitored under established public health protocols.
He added that infection prevention and control measures were strengthened in healthcare facilities, alongside healthcare worker training and provision of personal protective equipment and emergency response supplies.
The NCDC director-general said laboratory and surveillance teams investigated reported alerts, while public health officials engaged communities and healthcare facilities to ensure early detection and prompt reporting of suspected cases.
He said the agency sustained public communication to address concerns and misinformation, working with traditional and religious leaders, professional associations and community organisations to promote cooperation and public awareness.
On the index patient, Mr Idris said she was medically evacuated to Switzerland on Oct. 26 for further management after receiving clinical care in Nigeria before her international transfer.
He said laboratory tests initially confirmed that she remained positive upon arrival in Switzerland, but she subsequently recovered, tested negative and was discharged from hospital following treatment.
Mr Idris said the absence of secondary transmission demonstrated the importance of early recognition, prompt investigation, effective public health interventions and cooperation between health authorities and communities during disease outbreaks.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, emphasising that completing contact monitoring did not remove the risk of possible Ebola importation into the country through international travel.
He said the NCDC would continue investigating alerts, strengthening infection prevention and control measures and working with Port Health Services to maintain surveillance at international points of entry.
The director-general urged state ministries of health and healthcare facilities to sustain preparedness by strengthening suspected-case recognition, prompt reporting, laboratory testing and safe referral arrangements for suspected infections.
He also advised Nigerians and international visitors to seek medical attention early when unwell, particularly after travelling or having possible exposure to infectious diseases, including Ebola.
Mr Idris cautioned against assuming that every fever was malaria, urging patients to disclose their travel history and possible exposure to healthcare workers to support early disease detection.
He advised Nigerians to avoid unprotected contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola or other potentially infectious diseases.
The NCDC boss urged identified contacts to cooperate fully with public health authorities, while advising organisers of religious gatherings, political rallies, concerts and festivals to maintain appropriate health arrangements.
He also urged healthcare workers in public and private facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, observe infection prevention precautions and report suspected cases promptly to authorities.
Mr Idris said inbound international travellers were still required to complete the Nigeria Health Declaration Form before arrival and provide accurate information about their health and travel history.
He assured Nigerians that there was no cause for panic, but emphasised the need for continued vigilance, early reporting and cooperation with public health authorities nationwide.
During the question-and-answer session, Idris said the private hospital that initially managed the index patient handled her condition appropriately in spite of the multiple organ failures she experienced.
He explained that the patient was ambulatory and communicating before her medical evacuation to Switzerland, which was undertaken in accordance with her organisation’s requirements and arrangements.
He said the evacuation should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system, but as international health collaboration and mutual learning under International Health Regulations.
Mr Idris reiterated that surveillance had not been relaxed following completion of the 21-day contact monitoring period, adding that Nigeria remained on heightened alert against possible transmission.
He said another 21-day period without a confirmed case would be required before the World Health Organization could officially declare Nigeria free of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Adedolapo Fasawe, said the FCT response team successfully completed its three-week monitoring following contact with the index patient.
Ms Fasawe said the FCT epidemiological unit received an alert from a private health facility concerning a suspected Ebola case involving a patient with relevant travel history.
She said the FCT rapid response team was immediately deployed, while an incident management structure was established following laboratory confirmation of the infection in the patient.
She added that private hospitals in the FCT were accredited, familiar with established response protocols and had access to NCDC emergency contact numbers for reporting similar incidents promptly.
NAN