NCDC traces 53 primary Ebola contacts linked to Uganda traveler

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has expanded its contact tracing efforts to monitor 53 individuals following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in a traveler from Uganda. The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria, has prompted a high-alert response from national health authorities. Surveillance teams increased the list of primary contacts from an initial 44 to 53 as they conducted deeper investigations into the patient’s movements and interactions since her arrival.

The group of individuals currently under monitoring includes healthcare workers who first attended to the patient, as well as her family members and household staff. To mitigate the risk of a broader outbreak, the NCDC has implemented enhanced screening protocols across all international airports and major points of entry. In a related development, health officials reported that a suspected Ebola case in Rivers State has tested negative, allowing authorities to concentrate resources on managing the confirmed case and its identified contacts.

This incident has raised regional concerns, with the World Health Organization (WHO) noting that the case is linked to an outbreak originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has seen more than 4,600 deaths. Nigerian health officials are maintaining a strict 21-day observation period for all contacts to ensure that any potential symptoms are identified and isolated immediately. The NCDC continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any health concerns as the country works to contain this first linked case from the Central African outbreak.