The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has dismissed rumours linking the Ebola outbreak to a possible postponement of the 2027 elections, saying Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of the disease.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday at a virtual capacity-building workshop for journalists on effective Ebola reporting in Lagos.
Idris warned that misinformation could undermine ongoing efforts to contain the disease and urged journalists to rely on verified information from official sources.
He said 54 primary contacts linked to a woman evacuated to Switzerland remained under daily surveillance, despite three contacts developing symptoms last week and subsequently testing negative for Ebola.
The NCDC boss cautioned that the absence of a confirmed case did not mean Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free, stressing that surveillance and contact tracing must continue until authorities establish that there is no further risk of transmission.
“The fact that we currently have no confirmed case does not mean we should declare Nigeria Ebola-free.
“We must continue surveillance and ensure that all contacts are properly monitored,” he said.
Idris explained that the woman, whose Ebola infection was confirmed on October 20 after she returned to Abuja from Uganda, was evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 alongside her husband at the request and expense of the Swiss government.
He said the patient had shown clinical improvement before her departure, adding that the evacuation should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to him, most of the 54 contacts were quarantined in Abuja, while a few were placed under self-quarantine at home. He added that surveillance also involved identifying secondary contacts who may have interacted with them.
“Three contacts developed symptoms and were tested, but all returned negative results.
“However, we cannot stop monitoring them because the results are reassuring,” he said.
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The NCDC director-general also confirmed the approval of ₦100,000 in weekly support for contacts placed under quarantine to ease the financial burden associated with movement restrictions and encourage cooperation with public health authorities.
He said the intervention followed concerns over the welfare of affected individuals, adding that the agency was engaging the Federal Capital Territory Administration on its responsibilities towards people under quarantine.
Idris urged journalists to verify information through official channels, promptly correct false reports and avoid publishing details that could identify patients or contacts.
He warned that stigmatisation could harm affected families and healthcare facilities.
The NCDC boss reiterated that Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person who is sick and is not airborne.
He advised anyone experiencing fever alongside a relevant travel or contact history to call the designated response hotline, 6232, before visiting a healthcare facility.
