Nigeria Tracks 54 Contacts After Ebola Patient’s Evacuation

By The Merit Newspaper

Abuja, FCT -October 27, 2026
Nigeria has intensified contact tracing and surveillance following the evacuation of its first confirmed Ebola patient to Switzerland, with health authorities identifying 54 primary contacts linked to the infection and warning that the country is not yet out of danger.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed that the number of identified contacts increased after investigators traced an e-hailing driver who transported the infected woman to a hospital in Abuja. The agency said monitoring and investigations were continuing to prevent further transmission of the virus.
The development followed the evacuation of the 42-year-old woman, whose infection with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was confirmed on October 20, 2026, after she developed symptoms following travel from Uganda.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed on Monday that the patient had been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland for further medical care. Her husband, who had remained without symptoms, accompanied her during the evacuation.

According to the minister, the patient’s condition had improved considerably before departure, as she was stable, conscious and able to communicate. However, he cautioned that the improvement did not necessarily mean she was no longer infectious, stressing that strict public health protocols were observed during the operation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) subsequently confirmed that the patient had arrived safely in Switzerland, where she was receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals, while her husband was placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said health authorities were continuing to monitor identified contacts, investigate suspected cases and trace additional people who might have been exposed. He disclosed that three contacts tested on October 26 returned negative results, while efforts to identify secondary contacts remained ongoing.

The Merit Newspaper reports that the Federal Government has also urged healthcare facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, including screening, proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and prompt reporting of suspected cases. Nigerians have been advised to cooperate with public health officials and rely on verified information from relevant authorities.

Although Nigeria currently has no active confirmed Ebola patient following the evacuation, health officials have emphasised that surveillance must continue throughout the required monitoring period. The government has indicated that the outbreak could be declared over by December 7, 2026, provided no new cases emerge and the necessary public health criteria are satisfied.

Ebola is a serious viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting and body aches. Health authorities continue to stress the importance of early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation with contact-tracing teams to prevent further infections.