NCDC Adds Two Suspected Ebola Cases, Expands Contact Support in Abuja

New suspected cases and expanded contacts

On Sunday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced that two additional individuals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were suspected of having Ebola virus disease. The Director‑General, Dr Jide Idris, made the statement at a press briefing in Abuja. The suspected cases are linked to the single confirmed case that was first identified on 20 October. In total, the number of primary contacts being monitored has risen from 44 to 53, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and other close contacts.

The confirmed case, a diplomat who travelled from Uganda to Abuja via Addis Ababa on 3 October, showed malaria‑like symptoms on 7 October and was admitted to a private hospital on 11 October. She was tested on 19 October and the result, confirmed by the NCDC public health laboratory and the World Health Organization, was positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus on 20 October. The strain is the same one that caused the major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background

The first confirmed case was identified after a series of clinical and laboratory investigations. The patient’s condition worsened to multi‑organ failure and she is still kept in isolation. When the case was confirmed, 44 close contacts were found, comprising healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, travel contacts and the patient’s husband. The NCDC has stepped up surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention and control measures at the hospital and in the surrounding community.

In a separate development, the NCDC announced that it would pay a weekly stipend of N100,000 to people placed in isolation or quarantine. The payment was introduced after contacts complained about the cost of feeding, accommodation and supporting their families while under public health monitoring. The stipend is intended to cover feeding and family maintenance costs and was described by Dr Idris as an emergency measure that would be reviewed as the response progressed.

Why it matters

The increase in suspected cases and contacts underscores the seriousness of the outbreak. The Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making containment measures critical. The NCDC’s decision to provide financial support to isolated contacts aims to reduce the economic burden on individuals and encourage compliance with monitoring arrangements. This support is particularly relevant for contacts who are unable to maintain their families during quarantine.

The confirmed case remains the only laboratory‑confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria, but the presence of additional suspected cases raises the potential for further transmission if the contacts are not adequately monitored. The NCDC’s enhanced surveillance and the introduction of a stipend are measures designed to mitigate that risk.

What happens next

The NCDC will continue to review the financial support arrangement as the outbreak response evolves. No further dates or specific actions were announced beyond the introduction of the weekly stipend and the ongoing monitoring of the 53 contacts. The agency remains focused on preventing any secondary transmission and ensuring that all contacts receive the necessary care and support during isolation.