Admin 
NCDC
All 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease have completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period without any secondary transmission, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced on Friday.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris confirmed that the final contact was discharged following the observation window.
While 13 of the 62 contacts developed fever or other symptoms during monitoring, laboratory investigations confirmed all tested negative for the virus.
Additionally, seven suspected alerts reported across Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos, and Ekiti states over the past three weeks also returned negative results.
Despite the milestone, Idris cautioned that completing contact monitoring does not constitute an official declaration that Nigeria is free of the disease.
Under World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, an additional 21-day period without a confirmed case is required before Nigeria can be formally declared outbreak-free.
“Completing contact monitoring does not remove the risk of possible Ebola importation into the country through international travel,” Idris said, noting ongoing Ebola transmission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He confirmed that the National Emergency Operations Centre remains activated, with the Incident Management System operating at Level Three the highest response tier alongside heightened surveillance at international points of entry with Port Health Services.
The index case was confirmed on October 20 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after healthcare workers at an accredited private facility flagged a patient with relevant travel history through the NCDC’s event-based surveillance system.
Mandate Secretary for the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted that the FCT rapid response team was immediately deployed upon receiving the alert, establishing an incident management structure to trace contacts across healthcare facilities and households.
Idris commended the private hospital for properly managing the patient despite complications involving multiple organ failures. On October 26, the patient who was ambulatory and communicating was medically evacuated to Switzerland for further care in accordance with her organisation’s arrangements.
Idris emphasised that the transfer reflected international health collaboration under International Health Regulations rather than a lack of confidence in local healthcare.
Although she initially tested positive upon arrival in Switzerland, she has since recovered, tested negative, and been discharged.
Continued Public Vigilance
While assuring Nigerians there is no cause for panic, Idris urged continued vigilance across communities and healthcare facilities:
Seek Early Care: Patients should not assume every fever is malaria and must disclose recent travel history or potential exposures to healthcare workers.
Healthcare Protocols: Public and private health workers must maintain a high index of suspicion, adhere to infection prevention and control measures, and report suspected cases promptly.
Travel and Gatherings: Inbound international travellers remain required to accurately complete the Nigeria Health Declaration Form prior to arrival,
while organisers of large religious, political, and social gatherings are advised to maintain appropriate health arrangements.
Preventive Measures: Citizens should avoid unprotected contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola or other infectious diseases.
Idris credited the absence of secondary transmission to early detection, swift laboratory testing, coordinated response efforts, and strong cooperation between health authorities, traditional and religious leaders, and local communities. (NAN)
