The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged the public to remain vigilant as the country awaits official clearance from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the importation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain.
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Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris outlined the national response following the recent confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo Virus Disease involving a traveler who arrived from Uganda.
Dr. Idris emphasized that while no new cases have been reported in the country, public health measures remain active until all identified contacts complete the mandatory surveillance protocol.
“It is not over yet. We still have 28 contacts being monitored before the WHO can give Nigeria a clean bill of health,” Dr. Idris stated, calling for sustained alertness across health facilities and border entry points.
According to figures released by the agency, a total of 62 contacts were initially traced in connection with the index case. As of November 9, 34 of those contacts successfully completed their 21-day follow-up period without developing symptoms, leaving 28 active contacts under daily monitoring.
The NCDC chief assured that the agency is maintaining active surveillance, alert investigations, entry-point screenings, and continuous laboratory testing in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state health authorities, and international technical partners.
Dr. Idris further directed healthcare workers in both public and private medical facilities to strictly enforce infection prevention protocols, routinely obtain detailed travel and exposure histories from presenting patients, and immediately report suspected cases to state public health epidemiologists.
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