The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says it is monitoring 62 people linked to the country’s confirmed Ebola case, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission of the virus. The agency expects the follow-up exercise to be completed by November 13, 2026.
In its latest response update, the NCDC said monitoring deadlines for the identified contacts range from October 31 to November 13. Additional contact tracers have been deployed and trained to strengthen surveillance and ensure that everyone identified completes the required monitoring period.
The agency is also reviewing its case definitions and expanding the process for identifying people who may have been exposed. Guidelines covering contact tracing, self-quarantine, self-care kits and Ebola-related call procedures are being updated as part of efforts to improve the national response.
Laboratory findings show that 18 samples have been tested, with one returning positive and the remaining 17 negative. The negative results include 15 samples collected from contacts of the confirmed patient and two from other suspected cases.
Nigeria confirmed the imported case on October 20, 2026, involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The patient was a 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman who arrived in Abuja on October 3 after travelling from Uganda. She was later evacuated to Switzerland for further medical care, alongside her husband.
The NCDC says genomic sequencing of the confirmed case has been completed by its National Reference Laboratory in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases. The agency has also validated laboratory procedures and is developing digital dashboards on the SORMAS platform to improve the tracking of cases and contacts.
Other response measures include assessing additional contacts for possible transfer to a quarantine facility and continuing surveillance of those already in quarantine. Two suspected cases earlier reported in Adamawa State tested negative. The Bundibugyo strain has no specifically approved vaccine or treatment, making early detection, close monitoring and the prevention of further exposure important parts of the response.
