Ebola: Nine new persons isolated as watchlist hits 53, including healthcare workers

The number of contacts linked to the index case of Ebola recorded in October 2026 has risen to 53, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said.

The agency said the contacts comprise health workers as well as the domestic staff and spouse of the patient diagnosed with the disease.

The NCDC, in its Ebola Disease Situation Report, said that a newly suspected case was reported by Rivers State on October 23, but laboratory results returned negative for Ebola disease.

“Fifty-three contacts linked to the index case have so far been identified, categorized and followed up. Contacts listed include healthcare workers, domestic staff and spouse,” the report dated October 24, 2026, partly read.

Giving a background on the index case, it said the patient is a 42-year-old woman who returned from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3, 2026, via an international flight to Abuja, Nigeria.

The agency said she became symptomatic four days later and presented to a private health facility on October 10, and another on October 11.

“She presented to another private facility on the 11th of October 2026, where she was admitted. The NCDC was notified on the 19th of October, followed by in-depth case investigation and sample collection,” it said.

“A confirmation by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory was made on 20th October 2026. Symptoms at presentation included fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and sore throat. Bleeding was not reported.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the agency, Dr. Jide Idris, has reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the FCT health authorities and partners, is fully committed to responding to the confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory.

“I recognize the concern that the confirmation of Ebola may have caused among Nigerians. Ebola is a serious disease, and we are handling this situation with the urgency it deserves,” he said at a press briefing on Sunday. “We have a clear response plan, experienced personnel, and established public health systems that we are deploying to prevent further transmission.”