The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has increased its contact-tracing efforts following the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, with 53 primary contacts now under surveillance.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday, explaining that 44 of the identified contacts were linked to the health facility where the infected patient received treatment.
The development marks an increase from the initial 44 contacts announced by the Federal Government after the case was confirmed on October 20.
According to the World Health Organisation, the patient, a woman who recently travelled from Uganda, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention on October 11 before her infection was confirmed.
Idris said nine additional primary contacts had been identified outside the group associated with the health facility. They include three members of the patient’s household and individuals who attended to her at an emergency room she visited before being transferred to the facility where Ebola was confirmed.
The NCDC chief said investigations were ongoing to identify other people who might have been exposed through the initial contacts, noting that the exercise was essential to determining the potential spread of the virus.
“As of now, we have 53 primary contacts. Of these, 44 are people from that health facility where the patient was treated,” Idris said.
He explained that contact tracing would extend beyond individuals who had direct interactions with the patient to include people who might have subsequently come into contact with those already identified.
“For each person, we are going to ask questions. We have to establish who they have been in contact with. If we can identify those people, they will also be monitored,” he added.
The agency is also investigating the patient’s earlier visit to an emergency room, where three people who provided care to her have been identified as additional contacts.
Healthcare workers involved in collecting samples from the patient are also within the scope of the investigation, underscoring the importance of strict infection prevention and control procedures in medical facilities.
Idris said the NCDC was working to strengthen safety measures in health facilities and improve the capacity of state and local health authorities to respond effectively to infectious disease threats.
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He noted that the agency’s infection prevention and control teams assess health facilities, identify weaknesses and recommend corrective measures to reduce the risk of transmission.
The NCDC director-general also stressed the importance of training healthcare workers, particularly at the subnational level, to improve their ability to detect and manage suspected infections.
“Capabilities and competencies at the subnational level are not as high as they should be. We are responsible for building those capabilities. That is why training is one of our most important priorities,” he said.
The agency said identified contacts without symptoms would continue to be monitored, including through temperature checks, while anyone who develops symptoms would be promptly assessed.
The confirmed infection is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola associated with an outbreak affecting parts of Central and East Africa.
In response, the Federal Government has urged public and private healthcare facilities to remain vigilant, isolate suspected cases promptly, adhere to infection prevention protocols and report suspected infections to the relevant public health authorities.
The World Health Organisation has also emphasised that early detection, rapid contact tracing and strict infection control measures remain critical to containing Ebola outbreaks and protecting healthcare workers and the wider population.