NCDC maintains nationwide Ebola vigilance as 28 contacts still monitored, WHO clearance pending
NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris called for continued nationwide vigilance Tuesday as Nigeria awaits WHO clearance on Ebola spread. The country confirmed an imported Bundibugyo Virus Disease case in a traveller from Uganda recently. As of November 9, 34 of 62 identified contacts completed their 21-day monitoring, but 28 remain under follow-up. No new cases have emerged, but Idris stressed that each contact has a separate 21-day window — Nigeria cannot be declared Ebola-free until all contacts clear monitoring plus another 21 days, and only WHO can make that declaration.
Surveillance and contact tracing continue nationwide at airports and land borders, with recent alerts from Adamawa, Rivers, and Borno all testing negative. The NCDC urges healthcare workers in public and private facilities to establish patients' travel and exposure histories, observe infection prevention measures, and report suspected cases immediately. Anyone developing symptoms after possible Ebola exposure should avoid contact with others and call toll-free line 6232 before travelling to a health facility.
Beyond Ebola, the agency confirmed dengue fever in Sokoto and Zamfara states and chikungunya in Sokoto, deploying national rapid response teams including entomologists from Enugu's National Arbovirus Research Centre. Idris warned Nigerians not to assume every fever is malaria — dengue and chikungunya cause similar symptoms plus severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, and breathing difficulty in serious cases. States in the meningitis belt were advised to strengthen surveillance and vaccination as dry season approaches. Diphtheria remains a concern among children who missed routine immunisation; parents should verify vaccination status and seek guidance on missed doses.
With multiple disease threats circulating simultaneously, are you tracking your family's vaccination records and knowing when to call 6232 versus self-treating for malaria?