Ebola Outbreak: 28 Contacts Still Tracked, 34 Discharged in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that 28 individuals connected to the nation's recent imported Ebola case are currently under close medical observation, while 34 others have been cleared after finishing the required 21-day monitoring window. This update was provided by the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, during the release of the agency's national health security briefing on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

What measures are being implemented to curb the spread?

Dr. Idris explained that the country is stepping up its containment operations through collaborative actions involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, various state governments, and international development partners. These strategic interventions involve rigorous contact tracing, investigating potential alerts, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control protocols, secure patient management, and heightened screening at all national ports of entry.

What are the current figures regarding confirmed cases and contacts?

"As of 9 November 2026, Nigeria had confirmed only one imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, with no additional confirmed cases," Idris stated. He emphasized that the agency continues to investigate reported alerts and maintain strict nationwide surveillance to ensure suspected cases are quickly isolated and examined. Out of 62 identified contacts, 34 have successfully completed their 21-day follow-up assessments, leaving 28 still under active monitoring.

The health agency's chief clarified that appearing on the contact list does not confirm that an individual has contracted the virus. Instead, the 21-day tracking window is designed to spot any early symptoms and guarantee that affected persons receive immediate medical care if needed. Furthermore, Idris urged the public to avoid mixing up the individual 21-day observation timeframe for contacts with the total number of days that have passed since the index case was officially verified.