ABUJA — The Federal Government will prioritise the safety and welfare of health workers as public health authorities intensify efforts to contain a newly confirmed Ebola case in Abuja, according to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris.
Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Idris revealed that 53 contacts linked to the index case have been identified, categorized, and placed under a 21-day monitoring protocol. The contacts include healthcare personnel, domestic staff, and the spouse of the patient. Meanwhile, a suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 returned negative laboratory results.
The index patient—a 42-year-old woman—arrived in Abuja on October 3, 2026, on an international flight from Uganda via Addis Ababa. She developed symptoms four days later, including fever, diarrhea, generalized body aches, and a sore throat, without bleeding. After seeking care at two private health facilities, she was admitted on October 11. The NCDC was notified on October 19, with the National Reference Laboratory confirming Ebola disease on October 20.
Dr. Idris reassured the public that the government is responding with urgency through a structured Incident Management System coordinated by the Emergency Operations Centre, overseen by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, and the Presidential Task Force on EVD.
Commending the frontline workers whose vigilance led to the detection of the case, Dr. Idris appealed to all citizens to cooperate fully with contact tracers. He also directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to immediately reinforce infection prevention measures, establish mandatory screening procedures, maintain standard safety protocols, and supply adequate personal protective equipment to ensure early separation and reporting of any suspected cases.
