The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that two suspected Ebola cases detected in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State have tested negative, as health authorities continue to monitor 53 people linked to the country’s confirmed case.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the country’s response to the Ebola outbreak.

According to Idris, the 53 primary contacts identified so far include 44 healthcare personnel at the facility where the confirmed patient is receiving treatment, as well as other individuals who had contact with the patient before and after she developed symptoms.

He said the contact-tracing exercise was continuing, with authorities working to identify and monitor secondary contacts connected to those already listed.

Idris also disclosed that the Federal Government was considering a weekly allowance of N100,000 for people placed under quarantine to cover feeding and other basic needs.

He explained that the proposed payment was being considered following concerns raised by people currently in quarantine, adding that the arrangement would be temporary. States, he said, would eventually be expected to assume responsibility for contacts within their respective jurisdictions.

Nigeria has so far recorded one confirmed Ebola infection involving the Bundibugyo virus. Idris said the patient remained in isolation and was receiving medical treatment under established infection-prevention and control measures, adding that her condition was improving.

He said a sample collected from the patient’s husband also returned a negative result, while the two suspected cases in the FCT and Rivers State would remain under follow-up despite their negative test results.

The NCDC boss said the case was detected through event-based surveillance after healthcare workers identified symptoms that warranted further investigation.

He said the national response was being coordinated through an Incident Management System led by the Emergency Operations Centre, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, FCT health authorities and development partners involved.

The response, according to him, includes monitoring identified contacts for 21 days, providing clinical care, strengthening infection prevention measures in health facilities, expanding surveillance and laboratory capacity, and increasing public awareness.

Idris said the Department of State Services (DSS) was supporting efforts to locate and monitor contacts, while the government had also expanded the case definition being used for community surveillance.

He added that genomic testing capacity was being strengthened across 12 laboratories to improve the country’s ability to detect and characterise Ebola infections.

The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has also been designated as a specialised isolation facility, while the premises associated with the confirmed case have been disinfected, he said.

On the identity and movements of the confirmed patient, Idris said she was Ugandan and married to a Swiss national. He added that Nigerian authorities were still investigating her travel history and planned to engage their Ugandan counterparts virtually to exchange relevant information.

He urged members of the public to cooperate with health officials involved in contact tracing and to provide accurate information when requested.

Idris stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean that an individual had contracted Ebola, explaining that such people were being monitored as a precaution to detect possible symptoms early.

He advised Nigerians to maintain proper hand hygiene, avoid contact with blood and other bodily fluids from suspected cases and promptly report symptoms that could indicate infection.

The NCDC chief also called on healthcare facilities, both public and private, to strengthen screening and triage procedures and ensure that health workers have adequate personal protective equipment.

He warned against misinformation and discrimination against people linked to the outbreak, urging the public to rely on information from official health authorities.

Idris recalled his experience coordinating Nigeria’s Ebola response in Lagos State in 2014, saying lessons from that outbreak were informing the present response, particularly in the areas of leadership, coordination and public confidence.

Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak and other pressing health challenges are expected to feature prominently at the 50th anniversary summit of the West African College of Physicians (WACP), which begins in Abuja on Monday.

The week-long meeting is expected to attract more than 1,300 medical professionals and health experts from across West Africa.

WACP President, Dr Mamadou Mourtalla, said on Saturday that the summit would examine major developments in healthcare, including infectious disease outbreaks, scientific advances, medical training and health infrastructure.

He said more than 70 scientific papers had been prepared for the meeting, which would also examine strategies for responding to epidemics and strengthening health systems across the region.

Mourtalla said discussions at the summit would be geared towards producing recommendations for policymakers, with senior regional and Nigerian officials expected to participate.

The College’s Assistant Secretary-General, Dr Habibu Galadanci, said the agenda would also cover the migration of health professionals, commonly referred to as “Japa,” infrastructure shortages, rising cases of non-communicable diseases and infectious disease threats.

Other areas scheduled for discussion include kidney disease, hypertension, dementia, mental health, maternal and reproductive healthcare, artificial intelligence in medicine and ethical issues surrounding its use.

Galadanci said the brain drain would receive particular attention, with participants expected to examine the factors driving medical professionals out of the region and develop possible solutions.

He added that President Bola Tinubu had specifically urged the College during its recent visit to the State House to explore practical responses to the migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals.

As part of activities marking the anniversary, WACP members on Saturday held a free medical outreach in Waru community in Abuja, where residents received healthcare services.

The anniversary summit is expected to assess the College’s achievements over the past five decades and develop recommendations aimed at addressing West Africa’s healthcare challenges over the next 50 years.