NCDC Convenes Emergency Meeting, Finalises Ebola Response Plan
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has convened its first Incident Management Meeting on the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, a day after the Federal Government officially declared the outbreak.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, brought together the agency’s leadership and key partners to coordinate response efforts and strengthen measures to contain the disease.
The NCDC disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account, noting that the meeting focused on aligning stakeholders and establishing a coordinated approach to managing the outbreak.
“The first Incident Management Meeting was convened on October 21, 2026, after the Honourable Minister’s official outbreak declaration of Ebola in Nigeria, bringing together leadership and key partners to align on response efforts,” the agency stated.
The agency said its Incident Action Plan was being finalised, while response teams had already been deployed to the field to carry out critical public health interventions.
According to the NCDC, the response is prioritising enhanced disease surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, case management, and coordinated risk communication to limit the spread of the virus.
“The Incident Action Plan is being finalised today; NCDC teams are on the ground conducting case management and response activities, prioritising enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and coordinated risk communication,” the statement added.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a timely, coordinated and evidence-based response to protect public health and prevent further transmission of the disease.
“We remain committed to a timely, coordinated, and evidence-based response to safeguard the health of Nigerians,” the NCDC said.
The development follows the Federal Government’s confirmation on Tuesday of an Ebola virus disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after laboratory tests reportedly returned positive.
The patient was identified as a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on an international flight. Reports indicated that she had received treatment at a private hospital for several days before the infection was confirmed.
She was subsequently placed in isolation as health authorities intensified efforts to manage the case and prevent further spread.
The ongoing response is expected to focus on identifying and monitoring people who may have had contact with the confirmed case, strengthening surveillance at points of entry and healthcare facilities, and ensuring that suspected infections are promptly detected and managed.
The NCDC’s coordinated response comes amid growing calls for stronger surveillance, public awareness and adequate funding to support emergency health interventions across the country.