…34 people complete 21-day monitoring after imported case
Nigeria has recorded no new confirmed Ebola infection, 21 days after detecting an imported case of the deadly Bundibugyo strain, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced.
The agency, however, said 28 contacts linked to the index case were still under surveillance, while 34 others had completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period as of November 9, 2026.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a national health security update on Tuesday, saying 62 contacts had been identified since the country confirmed the imported case on October 20.
The index case involved a traveller from Uganda.
Idris said the NCDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT Administration, state governments and development partners, had sustained surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and infection prevention measures.
He explained that being identified as a contact did not mean that an individual had contracted Ebola, stressing that the monitoring exercise was designed to detect symptoms early and ensure a prompt response.
The NCDC boss said the agency was also investigating reported alerts and maintaining heightened surveillance across the country.
He urged health workers in public and private hospitals to remain vigilant, obtain patients’ travel and exposure histories, observe infection prevention measures and promptly report suspected cases.
Idris advised anyone who developed symptoms after possible exposure to Ebola to avoid contact with others and call the NCDC toll-free line, 6232, for guidance before travelling to a health facility.
Beyond Ebola, the NCDC chief disclosed that Nigeria was responding to outbreaks of dengue fever in Sokoto and Zamfara states, as well as Chikungunya in Sokoto.
He said National Rapid Response Teams, including entomologists from the National Arbovirus Research Centre in Enugu, had been deployed to support affected states with case identification, laboratory investigations, clinical preparedness, community engagement and mosquito control.
Idris warned Nigerians against treating every fever as malaria, noting that dengue and Chikungunya could also cause fever, headaches, body pains and joint pains.
He urged people with persistent fever, especially when accompanied by rash, vomiting or severe joint pains, to seek medical attention.
He warned that severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding and difficulty breathing could indicate serious dengue complications requiring urgent care.
To prevent mosquito-borne infections, the NCDC director-general advised households to eliminate stagnant water, cover water containers, clear discarded tyres and protect themselves against mosquito bites.
He stressed that mosquitoes responsible for transmitting the infections often bite during the day.
On cerebrospinal meningitis, Idris warned that the approaching dry season could increase the risk of infections in parts of the country’s meningitis belt.
He urged state governments to strengthen disease surveillance, diagnostic services, clinical preparedness and vaccination responses, where necessary.
He also identified diphtheria as a continuing public health threat, particularly among children who had missed routine immunisation, and urged parents to verify their children’s vaccination status and seek guidance on missed doses.
The NCDC boss further warned that Nigeria was approaching the period when Lassa fever cases historically increase, calling on state governments and health facilities to strengthen surveillance, testing, treatment readiness and infection prevention.
He advised households to protect food from rodents, store food in covered containers and maintain clean surroundings, while urging people with persistent fever to seek medical attention early.
With increased travel and mass gatherings expected during the festive season, Idris urged state governments, event organisers and healthcare providers to make basic medical services available at major events.
He also called for improved hygiene, sanitation and arrangements for identifying and reporting suspected infectious diseases.
The NCDC director-general urged state governments to provide frontline health workers and emergency response teams with adequate funding, equipment and logistics to strengthen the country’s capacity to detect and contain disease outbreaks.
He called on Nigerians to cooperate with public health authorities, ensure that children receive routine vaccinations and avoid spreading unverified information about disease outbreaks.
“For guidance or to report a suspected case, contact the NCDC toll-free line on 6232, or your state public health authorities,” he said.
