Ebola: FG Moves to Expand Treatment Capacity as Contacts Rise to 53

The Federal Government is stepping up preparations against a possible spread of Ebola in Nigeria, with plans to identify and strengthen treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry as the number of contacts linked to the confirmed case rises to 53.

The move is aimed at ensuring that suspected infections can be detected, isolated and transferred quickly to appropriate facilities, reducing the risk of further transmission.

As part of the preparedness measures, authorities have assessed the isolation and treatment capacity of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, while an infection prevention and control assessment is planned for Karu General Hospital in Abuja.

The government is also working to establish referral arrangements for suspected cases detected at airports and other entry points. The plan includes strengthening surveillance, improving hospital readiness and ensuring that healthcare facilities have the necessary procedures to manage possible infections.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said 53 contacts had been identified and categorised, with monitoring and contact-tracing activities continuing. The figure represents an increase from the initial 44 contacts reported after the case was confirmed.

According to the agency’s situation report, 44 of the contacts were linked to the health facility where the patient received treatment, while the remaining nine included household members and people who attended to her during an earlier emergency-room visit.

The NCDC is also working to identify secondary contacts who may have been exposed through individuals already being monitored. Health officials say anyone who develops symptoms will be assessed promptly, while surveillance continues.

To ease the financial burden on people required to remain in isolation or quarantine, the agency has approved emergency support of ₦100,000 per person weekly to help cover feeding, accommodation and family upkeep during the monitoring period.

The response also includes additional laboratory supplies, personal protective equipment, stronger airport surveillance and training for healthcare workers. Authorities are urging state governments to prepare the resources needed to support contact tracing, isolation and emergency response activities.

The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria after visiting Uganda, following a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She tested positive for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus on October 20, 2026, and is receiving care in isolation.

Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, follow official advisories, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid direct contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola. They have also cautioned against spreading misinformation or stigmatising people placed under monitoring.

The government’s latest measures reflect an effort to strengthen readiness beyond Abuja, ensuring that states with international entry points can respond quickly if suspected cases are detected.

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