The NCDC has confirmed that 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s imported Ebola case have completed 21-day monitoring without secondary transmission, while urging Nigerians to remain vigilant.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s imported Bundibugyo Virus Disease case have completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period without any secondary transmission.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference, confirming that the last identified contact had been discharged after completing the monitoring period.
Idris said 13 of the 62 contacts developed fever or other symptoms during monitoring but subsequently tested negative for Bundibugyo Virus Disease following laboratory investigations.
He added that seven other alerts reported across Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Ekiti states within three weeks were investigated, with all suspected cases testing negative after laboratory assessments.
However, the NCDC director-general cautioned that the completion of contact monitoring did not amount to an official declaration that Nigeria was free of the disease, stressing that continued surveillance remained necessary.
He explained that such a declaration would depend on established public health criteria and findings from ongoing surveillance, particularly in view of continued Ebola transmission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Idris said Nigeria had maintained heightened surveillance, with the National Emergency Operations Centre activated and the Incident Management System operating at Level Three, the highest response level for Ebola.
According to him, the national response focused on clinical care, contact tracing, preventing further transmission, protecting healthcare workers and strengthening disease surveillance across potentially exposed communities.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s index case was confirmed on October 20 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following an alert raised by healthcare workers through the NCDC’s event-based surveillance system.
The early alert enabled the NCDC, FCT health authorities and other relevant institutions to commence investigations and establish an incident management structure for coordinated response activities.
Idris said contact tracing covered healthcare facilities, households and other relevant locations, while identified contacts were assessed according to their exposure and monitored under established public health protocols.
He added that infection prevention and control measures were strengthened in healthcare facilities through training of healthcare workers and the provision of personal protective equipment and emergency response supplies.
The NCDC also investigated reported alerts through its laboratory and surveillance teams, while public health officials engaged communities and healthcare facilities to encourage early detection and prompt reporting of suspected infections.
Idris said the agency sustained public communication efforts to address concerns and misinformation, working with traditional and religious leaders, professional associations and community organisations to promote awareness and cooperation.
On the index patient, he disclosed that she was medically evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 for further management after receiving clinical care in Nigeria.
He said initial laboratory tests conducted upon her arrival in Switzerland still returned positive results, but she subsequently recovered, tested negative and was discharged from hospital after treatment.
The NCDC boss attributed the absence of secondary transmission to early recognition, prompt investigation, effective public health interventions and cooperation between health authorities and communities.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, noting that the completion of contact monitoring did not eliminate the possibility of future Ebola importation through international travel.
He said the NCDC would continue investigating alerts, strengthening infection prevention and control measures and collaborating with Port Health Services to maintain surveillance at international points of entry.
Idris also urged state ministries of health and healthcare facilities to sustain preparedness by improving suspected-case recognition, prompt reporting, laboratory testing and safe referral arrangements.
He advised Nigerians and international visitors to seek medical attention promptly when unwell, particularly after travelling or having possible exposure to infectious diseases, including Ebola.
The director-general cautioned against assuming that every fever was malaria, urging patients to disclose their travel history and possible exposure to healthcare workers to support early disease detection.
He further advised Nigerians to avoid unprotected contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola or other potentially infectious diseases.
Idris called on organisers of religious gatherings, political rallies, concerts and festivals to maintain appropriate health arrangements, while urging identified contacts to cooperate fully with public health authorities.
He also charged healthcare workers in public and private facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, observe infection prevention precautions and promptly report suspected cases to the relevant authorities.
The NCDC director-general disclosed that inbound international travellers were still required to complete the Nigeria Health Declaration Form before arrival and provide accurate information about their health and travel history.
He assured Nigerians that there was no cause for panic but emphasised the importance of continued vigilance, early reporting and cooperation with public health authorities.
During the question-and-answer session, Idris said the private hospital that initially managed the index patient handled her condition appropriately despite the multiple organ failures she experienced.
He explained that the patient was ambulatory and able to communicate before her medical evacuation to Switzerland, which was undertaken in line with her organisation’s requirements and arrangements.
According to him, the evacuation should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system but rather as an example of international health collaboration and mutual learning under the International Health Regulations.
Idris reiterated that surveillance had not been relaxed following the completion of the 21-day contact monitoring period, adding that Nigeria remained on heightened alert against possible transmission.
He said another 21-day period without a confirmed case would be required before the World Health Organisation could officially declare Nigeria free of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said the FCT response team had successfully completed its three-week monitoring following contact with the index patient.
Fasawe disclosed that the FCT epidemiological unit received an alert from a private health facility concerning a suspected Ebola case involving a patient with a relevant travel history.
She said the FCT rapid response team was immediately deployed, while an incident management structure was established following laboratory confirmation of the infection.
The FCT official added that private hospitals in the territory were accredited, familiar with established response protocols and had access to NCDC emergency contact numbers for promptly reporting similar incidents.
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