The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has expanded its Ebola contact-tracing efforts, with the number of primary contacts under surveillance rising to 53 following the confirmation of a case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a press conference on Sunday while providing an update on the country’s response to the outbreak saying investigations had identified additional people who might have been exposed to the infected patient.
According to Dr. Idris, 44 of the contacts were linked to the health facility where the patient received treatment, while nine others were identified through further investigations.
The additional contacts include three household members, her husband and individuals who attended to the patient during an earlier visit to an emergency room before she was taken to the facility where the Ebola infection was confirmed.
The NCDC said contact tracing was ongoing, with surveillance teams working to identify secondary contacts who might have had direct interactions with those already being monitored.
The agency explained that investigators were also examining the patient’s medical history and movements to establish the extent of possible exposure and determine whether other individuals could have been affected.
Healthcare workers involved in collecting samples from the patient are also among those being assessed as part of efforts to identify potential exposure risks and prevent further transmission.
Idris said the NCDC was strengthening infection prevention and control measures in health facilities while supporting state and local health authorities through training and other response activities.
He explained that contacts who remain asymptomatic are being monitored, including through regular temperature checks, while anyone who develops symptoms would receive prompt medical assessment.
The confirmed infection is associated with the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus linked to outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa.
The NCDC urged public and private healthcare facilities to maintain a high level of vigilance, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe infection prevention and control protocols, and report suspected infections to the appropriate public health authorities.
The agency said the expanded surveillance and contact-tracing measures were intended to identify potential infections early, interrupt possible chains of transmission and protect the public.
