*Nigeria activates surveillance system, remains vigilant
By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Editor, Abuja
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, has said that all the 62 contacts linked to the imported Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) index case are confirmed with no secondary transmission recorded, while announcing the successful completion of the 21-day monitoring period for all contacts on Friday, at a press briefing in Abuja.
Idris said all the 62 contacts tested negative and had been discharged from the private facilities where they were quarantined.
The NCDC DG said the successful completion of the 21-day monitoring period represented a significant milestone in Nigeria’s response to the disease.
According to him, a total of 62 contacts were identified, quarantined and monitored by public health teams, adding that none tested positive for the Ebola virus.
Additionally the NCDC chief said, 13 contacts reported fever or other nonspecific symptoms during the monitoring period, but laboratory tests confirmed that all were negative for the virus.
The NCDC DG also disclosed that several alerts received from Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Kogi states were investigated, with all seven persons tested returning negative results.He cautioned that the completion of contact monitoring did not automatically constitute a formal declaration that the outbreak was over, explaining that such a determination must be based on established public health criteria and ongoing surveillance findings.
He said that although the World Health Organisation (WHO), had declared the affected area Ebola-free, Nigeria would remain vigilant, particularly in view of the continued occurrence of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He explained that Nigeria’s response was activated following an alert raised by healthcare workers through the NCDC’s Event-Based Surveillance System, which enabled the agency and state health authorities to initiate prompt investigations and response measures.
Idris said, the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated, while an Incident Management System was established to coordinate the national response.
He said the response focused on providing clinical care, identifying and monitoring exposed persons, preventing further transmission, protecting healthcare workers and strengthening disease surveillance.
The NCDC chief added that contact tracing was conducted across healthcare facilities, households and other relevant settings, while infection prevention and control measures were reinforced in health facilities nationwide.He said healthcare workers received additional training on the early recognition and reporting of suspected cases, alongside the provision of personal protective equipment and other essential response supplies.
Idris further explained that laboratory and surveillance teams investigated reported alerts, while community mobilisation teams engaged healthcare facilities, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to encourage early reporting and appropriate health-seeking behaviour.
