US health officials said Tuesday, that the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria is almost over.
The virus’s incubation period is 21 days and after two of these periods have passed without any new cases, officials can declare an outbreak over.
Therefore, since there have been no new cases in Nigeria since August 31, the country should be able to announce a formal end to its outbreak on October 12, a spokesman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told AFP.
Meanwhile, the last three people monitored due to potential exposure to an Ebola patient will end their 21 days of follow-up for signs of symptoms later this week.
“The last three patient contacts will exit their 21-day follow-up on October 2 — strongly suggesting the outbreak in Nigeria has been contained,” the CDC said in a statement.
