Nigeria’s response to the Ebola disease outbreak has taken a new turn, with two suspected cases identified by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in the Northeast region, prompting fresh surveillance and containment measures.
The NCDC disclosed this in an update posted on its official X handle, @NCDCgov, on Saturday, saying both individuals had been isolated while contact identification and listing were ongoing.
The agency said laboratory testing was also being conducted to establish their infection status, stressing that being classified as suspected cases does not mean the individuals have tested positive for Ebola.
The latest development comes amid Nigeria’s ongoing response to the confirmation of its first Ebola case in the current outbreak, involving a 42-year-old woman who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain on October 20, 2026, after travelling from Uganda through Addis Ababa to Abuja.
The woman developed symptoms on October 7 and subsequently sought medical attention at private health facilities in Abuja. Her infection was confirmed by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory following sample collection and investigation.
The Federal Government subsequently activated the national emergency response mechanism, strengthened surveillance and commenced contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
In an earlier development, health authorities also investigated suspected Ebola cases in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State. The two suspected cases were subsequently reported to have tested negative, although monitoring and follow-up measures continued.
The confirmed index patient was later medically evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment, while Nigeria’s health authorities continued monitoring identified contacts. As of October 29, 62 contacts linked to the confirmed case had been identified and placed under follow-up.
The emergence of the two suspected cases in the North-East adds another layer to the ongoing surveillance efforts, although their relationship, if any, to the previously confirmed case has not been established in the latest update.
Meanwhile, the NCDC has urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced environmental sanitation and comply with guidance issued by public health authorities.
The agency emphasised the importance of relying on verified information and avoiding premature conclusions while laboratory investigations are ongoing.
It assured the public that further updates would be provided as verified information becomes available.
