NCDC Records Two Additional Suspected Ebola Cases as Nigeria Intensifies Surveillance

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two additional suspected cases of Ebola virus disease as health authorities intensify surveillance, contact tracing and other emergency measures to prevent further transmission in the country.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the development during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, 25 October 2026, as the Federal Government continued its response to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola infection.

The agency stressed that the additional cases remain classified as suspected and should not be treated as confirmed infections without laboratory evidence.

The development comes days after Nigeria confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The patient, a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, is receiving medical care under isolation, while public health officials continue investigating possible exposure routes and monitoring people who may have come into contact with her.

According to the NCDC, 53 primary contacts have been identified for follow-up as part of efforts to detect possible infections early and prevent further spread.

Rivers State Suspected Case Tests Negative

During the latest briefing, the NCDC disclosed that a suspected Ebola case in Rivers State tested negative and was cleared of the disease.

The development highlights the importance of laboratory testing in distinguishing genuine infections from illnesses that initially present symptoms requiring further investigation.

Ebola symptoms can resemble those of other infectious diseases, particularly during the early stages of illness. Consequently, a person suspected of having the disease must undergo appropriate medical assessment and testing before the diagnosis can be established.

The negative result in Rivers State is reassuring for the individual concerned and the surrounding community. However, it does not remove the need for continued surveillance, especially while Nigeria is responding to a confirmed imported infection.

The status of each suspected case must be determined individually through the established public health process.

Nigeria Maintains One Confirmed Ebola Case

As of 25 October 2026, the NCDC reported one confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria.

The confirmed infection involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is associated with a serious illness that requires prompt diagnosis, appropriate clinical care and strict infection prevention measures.

The patient developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria from Uganda and subsequently sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja. Laboratory testing confirmed the infection on 20 October.

The Federal Government and the NCDC have since activated a coordinated response involving health authorities, surveillance teams, laboratory personnel and other relevant partners.

The immediate objectives are to provide appropriate treatment, identify people who may have been exposed, monitor their health and prevent further transmission.

The emergence of suspected cases does not automatically mean that the disease is spreading widely. Each case requires careful investigation to establish whether the person is infected and, where necessary, determine the possible source of exposure.

Contact Tracing Reaches 53 People

The NCDC has identified 53 primary contacts connected to the confirmed case, according to information provided during the latest briefing.

These contacts include individuals who may have had relevant interactions with the patient, including healthcare workers, caregivers, household members and other people whose exposure histories require assessment.

Public health teams are working to determine the nature of each person’s contact with the confirmed patient and establish the appropriate level of monitoring.

Under established Ebola response procedures, identified contacts are monitored for 21 days from their last possible exposure. This period corresponds to the maximum recognised incubation period used in monitoring for Ebola virus disease.

Anyone identified as a contact is not automatically infected. Contact tracing is a preventive measure designed to identify potential infections promptly and interrupt possible transmission chains.

If a monitored individual develops symptoms or has a relevant exposure requiring further investigation, health authorities can arrange medical assessment, testing and other necessary measures.

The NCDC has urged people contacted by public health officials to cooperate fully, provide accurate information and follow instructions throughout the monitoring period.

NCDC Strengthens Laboratory and Isolation Capacity

The agency has also highlighted measures to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to investigate suspected infections.

According to reports of the briefing, approximately 12 public and private laboratories are available to conduct Ebola tests, supporting efforts to investigate suspected cases and establish diagnoses promptly.

Laboratory testing is essential because symptoms alone cannot reliably confirm Ebola virus disease. Timely testing helps medical teams determine whether a suspected case requires Ebola-specific management and enables health authorities to make evidence-based decisions.

The NCDC has also confirmed that isolation and quarantine facilities are available to support the national response.

Isolation is used to separate people who are infected or suspected of having an infectious disease from others when clinically and epidemiologically appropriate. Quarantine or monitored separation may be used for people who have been exposed but are not known to be infected.

These measures serve different purposes, and identifying someone for monitoring does not mean that the person has tested positive.

The agency is also working to strengthen screening, triage and infection prevention measures in public and private healthcare facilities.

Healthcare Workers Urged to Maintain High Alert

The NCDC has called on healthcare facilities nationwide to maintain a high level of vigilance and strengthen their infection prevention and control procedures.

Healthcare workers are often the first people to encounter patients whose symptoms may require investigation for Ebola. Early recognition, prompt reporting and appropriate protective measures are therefore essential.

Hospitals and clinics have been urged to strengthen screening and triage, ensure that staff have appropriate personal protective equipment and follow established protocols when managing suspected cases.

The agency has also emphasised the need for suspected infections to be reported promptly so that surveillance teams can investigate and arrange testing where necessary.

The response requires coordination between hospitals, laboratories, state health authorities and national public health agencies. Delays in identifying a suspected infection or failures to observe appropriate protective procedures can complicate outbreak control.

Protecting healthcare workers is equally important because they play central roles in patient care, sample collection, contact tracing and other activities necessary to contain an outbreak.

Understanding the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus

Ebola virus disease is a severe illness caused by viruses belonging to the Ebola group. The Bundibugyo virus, responsible for Nigeria’s confirmed case, is one of the viruses known to cause Ebola disease.

Transmission can occur through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, particularly after symptoms develop. Contact with contaminated materials may also present a risk.

Symptoms can include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and other serious complications. However, these symptoms are not unique to Ebola and can occur in other illnesses.

People who suspect they have been exposed should contact public health authorities and follow their instructions rather than attempting to diagnose or treat themselves.

Members of the public should avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and should not attempt to provide care without appropriate protective measures and professional guidance.

Regular handwashing with soap and running water or the use of an alcohol-based hand rub, where appropriate, also helps support general infection prevention.

What Nigerians Should Do

The NCDC has appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, obtain information from authorised public health sources and cooperate with health officials.

People who may have been exposed to a confirmed case should provide accurate information about their movements and contacts and comply with the monitoring arrangements established by health authorities.

Anyone who develops symptoms after a possible exposure should report the situation promptly and follow professional instructions before travelling to a healthcare facility.

Healthcare workers and facility managers should maintain heightened vigilance, promptly report suspected cases and ensure that appropriate infection prevention and control procedures are followed.

The public should also avoid spreading unverified reports, identifying or stigmatising people who are being monitored, or assuming that a suspected case is a confirmed infection.

Responsible communication is important during an outbreak because misinformation can create unnecessary fear, discourage people from seeking care and undermine cooperation with contact tracing.

Nigeria’s Ebola Response Remains Ongoing

The latest report of additional suspected cases underscores the need for sustained surveillance and a coordinated national response.

Nigeria has previous experience managing Ebola outbreaks, including the 2014 outbreak, and public health authorities are drawing on established procedures for case detection, laboratory investigation, contact tracing and infection prevention.

However, preparedness depends on the consistent application of these measures, adequate protection for healthcare workers, reliable laboratory services and public cooperation.

The NCDC has indicated that the response will continue to be adjusted as new evidence becomes available. The number of contacts and suspected cases may change as investigations progress and health officials obtain additional information.

The focus remains on identifying possible infections early, providing appropriate care, monitoring exposed individuals and preventing further transmission.

The NCDC’s report of two additional suspected Ebola cases on 25 October 2026 has reinforced the importance of vigilance as Nigeria responds to one confirmed case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.

The suspected case in Rivers State tested negative, demonstrating why laboratory confirmation is essential before a diagnosis is established. Meanwhile, the identification of 53 primary contacts and the strengthening of surveillance, laboratory testing and isolation arrangements remain central to the national response.

For now, the public should distinguish between suspected and confirmed infections, follow official health guidance and cooperate with public health teams.

The effectiveness of the response will depend on early detection, accurate information, strict infection prevention measures and the willingness of individuals and institutions to work with health authorities.

As investigations continue, the NCDC’s verified updates will remain important for understanding the evolving situation and determining the appropriate public health response.