The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has allayed fears that the Ebola outbreak could disrupt the 2027 general elections, dismissing reports of a possible postponement as “entirely false.”
The agency said 54 primary contacts linked to the infected woman evacuated to Switzerland were still under daily surveillance, with three contacts who developed symptoms testing negative for the virus.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, stated this on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop for journalists on effective Ebola reporting.
He said most of the contacts were being monitored under quarantine in Abuja, while a few were observing self-quarantine at home.
Idris explained that the three contacts who developed symptoms last week underwent testing, but none tested positive for Ebola.
He said the agency was sustaining its surveillance operations and tracing secondary contacts to identify possible exposure and prevent any potential community transmission.
The NCDC chief, however, cautioned against declaring Nigeria Ebola-free, explaining that the absence of a confirmed case in the country did not mean surveillance efforts should be relaxed.
He stressed that continued monitoring remained necessary to detect any possible new infection and ensure a timely public health response.
On the evacuation of the infected woman to Switzerland, Idris said she left Nigeria with her husband on October 26, 2026, at the request and expense of the Swiss government.
He said the patient, who was initially in poor clinical condition, had improved before departure and was “stable, conscious and in better clinical condition” at the time of evacuation.
The NCDC director-general also rejected suggestions that the evacuation indicated a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system, maintaining that the patient’s transfer should not be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the country’s medical facilities.
To ease the burden on people placed under quarantine, the agency confirmed weekly financial support of N100,000 for affected individuals to cushion the impact of movement restrictions.
Idris urged journalists to report the outbreak responsibly by verifying information, avoiding sensationalism and protecting the privacy of patients and people identified as contacts.
He also called on the public to rely on verified information from health authorities rather than unsubstantiated reports capable of triggering unnecessary panic.
Explaining how the virus spreads, Idris said Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person who is sick, stressing that it is not airborne.
He advised anyone experiencing fever alongside a relevant travel history or contact with a suspected or confirmed case to call the designated Ebola hotline, 6232, before visiting a healthcare facility.
