Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Federal Government is working to establish and strengthen Ebola treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry as the number of identified contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case rises to 53.

The measures are aimed at improving the country’s readiness to contain a possible spread of the virus, including expanding isolation capacity, strengthening surveillance at entry points and establishing referral systems for suspected cases.

According to an Ebola situation report obtained on Sunday, the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has undergone a needs assessment and optimisation to prepare it for isolation and treatment, while an infection prevention and control assessment is planned for Karu General Hospital in Abuja.

The report said authorities were also working to identify and upgrade treatment facilities in states with designated ports of entry to ensure suspected cases could be transferred quickly from detection points to appropriate centres.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has also approved an emergency payment of N100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed under isolation or quarantine to ease the financial burden of complying with public health monitoring.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the intervention during a press briefing on Sunday, explaining that some contacts had raised concerns about the cost of feeding, accommodation and supporting their families while under monitoring.

“We are providing N100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,” Idris said.

He explained that the payment was not part of the initial response plan but became necessary because of the emergency.

The NCDC chief added that the government was covering accommodation and feeding expenses, stressing that similar support might be required in other states if the outbreak response expanded beyond the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is not the responsibility of the FCT alone. What we have to do for the FCT, we have to do for any other state, just in case,” he said, urging state governments to prepare adequate financial and logistical resources for emergencies.

The situation report confirmed that 53 contacts had been identified, listed and categorised, up from the initial 44 recorded after the case was confirmed in the FCT.

Idris said 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.

Health officials are also investigating possible secondary contacts to establish whether any of the people already identified may have exposed others.

Idris said contacts would be monitored daily, with anyone developing symptoms assessed promptly. He disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell had tested negative, although monitoring was continuing.

The NCDC has revised its case definition to help health workers and surveillance teams identify suspected Ebola infections. The criteria include people with compatible symptoms and relevant exposure histories, unexplained bleeding, or symptoms following contact with a confirmed or probable case.

The agency has also urged communities to report unexplained deaths and suspected cases, particularly where there may have been exposure to the virus.

 Genomic sequencing completed

The report stated that genomic sequencing of the confirmed case had been completed by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

Further steps include sharing the sequencing report, continuing diagnostic testing and maintaining laboratory records. Additional testing reagents and supplies are also expected to be distributed across the national laboratory network.

Authorities are strengthening infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities to minimise the risk of transmission to health workers, patients and other people.

The planned measures include assessments of isolation capacity, implementation of screening and isolation strategies, and additional training for healthcare workers, particularly at the subnational level.

Idris acknowledged that infection prevention and control capacity in some states needed improvement, adding that training remained a priority for the agency.

The government has also increased its stockpile of personal protective equipment and other essential supplies. The report said 500 donated laboratory testing kits had been added to available stocks, while additional protective equipment and commodities would be distributed to high-risk states.

Surveillance at airports and other ports of entry is also being strengthened, with Port Health Services working alongside aviation stakeholders to support the response.

Other priorities include preparing high-risk states, establishing referral arrangements for suspected cases and improving communication with communities to counter misinformation about Ebola.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to rely on official information, avoid spreading rumours and cooperate with health officials conducting contact tracing. It also warned against stigmatising people placed under monitoring.

How the confirmed case was detected

The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria after visiting Uganda, following a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to information previously provided by health authorities, she developed symptoms on October 7, sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus on October 20.

The World Health Organisation has said investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of the infection.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissues of infected people or animals, as well as contaminated materials. Health authorities have urged Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.

Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 through rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health measures.

The current response includes coordination among federal and state authorities, healthcare facilities and response partners to improve preparedness and ensure suspected cases are detected and managed promptly.