No new cases have been reported since an imported Bundibugyo virus disease case was confirmed, but the NCDC says 28 contacts remain under follow-up and only the WHO can determine when Nigeria’s monitoring period is complete.
By: A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — November 11, 2026
Nigeria is continuing to monitor 28 people linked to an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says, cautioning that the absence of new confirmed cases does not mean the country has been declared free of the disease.
NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris gave the update on Tuesday, saying that 34 of the 62 identified contacts had completed their individual 21-day monitoring periods as of November 9. The remaining 28 are still being followed.
The distinction matters: the monitoring period is counted separately for each contact, not from the date Nigeria confirmed its first case. Idris said the World Health Organization (WHO), rather than Nigeria acting alone, must be involved in any determination that the country is Ebola-free.
Contact monitoring continues after imported case
The case involved a traveller from Uganda and was confirmed as Bundibugyo virus disease, a disease caused by a virus in the Ebola group. The NCDC says no additional cases have been reported.
Idris said contact tracing, investigation of alerts, laboratory testing and surveillance at points of entry are continuing. The agency is working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, state authorities and development partners.
He also cautioned against treating the completion of one person’s 21-day follow-up as the end of monitoring for everyone connected to the case. The 28 remaining contacts will complete their own follow-up periods at different times.
Being listed as a contact does not mean someone has contracted the disease. Monitoring is intended to identify symptoms early and ensure a timely public-health response.
Border alerts tested negative, NCDC says
Idris said the agency had investigated alerts from Adamawa, Rivers and Borno states, including reports linked to border crossings. He said the cases investigated in those alerts tested negative.
The NCDC says surveillance is being maintained nationwide, including at airports and land borders. The agency has urged healthcare workers in both public and private facilities to ask patients about travel and possible exposure, follow infection-prevention procedures, and promptly report suspected cases to public-health authorities.
Anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure to Ebola is advised to avoid contact with others and call the NCDC’s toll-free line, 6232, for guidance before travelling to a health facility.
NCDC warns other fever illnesses may be overlooked
Alongside its Ebola response, the NCDC raised concerns about dengue fever, chikungunya, diphtheria, cerebrospinal meningitis and Lassa fever.
The agency confirmed dengue cases in Sokoto and Zamfara states and chikungunya in Sokoto. It said national rapid response teams—including entomologists from the National Arbovirus Research Centre in Enugu—had been deployed to support case identification, laboratory investigations, clinical preparedness, community engagement and mosquito control.
Idris warned against assuming that every fever is malaria. Dengue and chikungunya can also cause fever, headache, body pain and joint pain. He said severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding and difficulty breathing may indicate serious dengue complications and warrant urgent medical attention.
The NCDC also urged states in the meningitis belt to strengthen surveillance, diagnostic capacity, clinical readiness and vaccination efforts as the dry season advances. It said diphtheria remains a concern, particularly among children who have missed routine immunisations, and encouraged parents and caregivers to check vaccination records and seek advice about missed doses.
no new cases, but monitoring is not over
Nigeria has reported no new cases linked to the imported Bundibugyo virus disease infection, but 28 contacts remain under follow-up. The NCDC’s message is that the end of an individual monitoring period is not, by itself, a declaration that the country is Ebola-free. Until the remaining follow-up is completed and the WHO’s role is fulfilled, the agency says vigilance and prompt reporting remain essential.
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