FG Pays Ebola Contacts ₦100,000 Weekly as NCDC Tracks 53

…Figure to be reviewed upward as suspected Rivers case tests negative—Abuja patient improves remarkably

By Peter Salami
The Federal Government has approved an emergency payment of ₦100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine over possible exposure to Ebola as health authorities intensify efforts to contain Nigeria’s confirmed case.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, said on Sunday that 53 contacts linked to the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory were now being monitored, while a suspected case reported in Rivers State on October 23 had tested negative.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, also said the 42-year-old female patient had “improved remarkably” and remained under medical care in isolation.

Idris said the ₦100,000 weekly intervention was introduced after some contacts expressed concerns about feeding, accommodation and maintaining their families while complying with public health restrictions.

“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families,” he said.

According to him, the payment was not originally planned but became necessary as an emergency measure to support affected persons and encourage cooperation with health authorities.

The confirmed patient returned from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3 and developed fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and sore throat four days later.

She sought treatment at a private health facility on October 10 and was admitted to another facility the following day. The NCDC was notified on October 19, while laboratory testing confirmed Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus on October 20.

The 53 identified contacts include healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s spouse. They are being monitored for 21 days following their last possible exposure.

The NCDC has activated its national Incident Management System at the highest level, while genomic sequencing has been completed by its National Reference Laboratory and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

The agency has also strengthened stocks of personal protective equipment and other supplies, including 500 donated laboratory testing kits.

Idris said the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital had undergone a readiness assessment and optimisation exercise for use as an isolation and treatment centre.

Enhanced surveillance is continuing at Nigeria’s points of entry, while hospitals have been directed to immediately isolate suspected cases without waiting for laboratory confirmation.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm, practice regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of suspected cases, and cooperate with contact-tracing teams.