The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that Nigeria must complete a 42-day monitoring period under established outbreak-ending criteria before it can be officially declared free of Ebola following the country’s recent confirmed case.
The clarification came after Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola case in more than a decade was medically evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment on October 26, 2026. Although the evacuation left Nigeria with no confirmed active Ebola cases, the WHO stressed that this does not mean the outbreak has officially ended.
The patient, a 42-year-old woman who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa, tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease on October 20. She had arrived in Abuja on October 3 and developed symptoms several days later. Health authorities are continuing to investigate where she contracted the infection.
According to the WHO, the 42-day period is based on international outbreak-ending criteria. The countdown depends on the relevant circumstances of the last confirmed case, including the required negative test results or other applicable criteria. The period is intended to provide time for health authorities to identify any further infections that may emerge from earlier exposure.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the country could potentially declare the outbreak over as early as December 7, provided no additional confirmed or probable cases are detected and the required timeline is validated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the WHO. The date remains provisional and could change if another case is identified.
Following the patient’s evacuation, Nigerian health authorities continued monitoring people who may have been exposed to the infection. The number of identified contacts has changed as investigations have progressed, and officials have emphasised the importance of completing the monitoring process.
The NCDC has urged people contacted by public health officials to cooperate with surveillance teams, provide accurate information about their movements and report any symptoms promptly. Being identified as a contact does not mean a person has Ebola; it means health officials need to assess and monitor the person for possible exposure.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, which has also affected other countries in the region. Public health authorities have been working to trace contacts, strengthen surveillance, improve infection prevention in healthcare facilities and prevent further transmission.
Health officials have also warned against misinformation about Nigeria’s Ebola status. The absence of a confirmed active case is encouraging, but it is not a substitute for completing the required monitoring period and meeting the official criteria for declaring an outbreak over.
For now, Nigerian authorities and their international partners are continuing surveillance and preparedness activities. The final declaration will depend on the outcome of monitoring, investigations and confirmation that the established outbreak-ending requirements have been met.
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