NCDC: We’ve identified two suspected Ebola cases — but one tested negative
NCDC: We’ve identified two suspected Ebola cases — but one tested negative
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it is investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease, following confirmation of an earlier case involving a 42-year-old woman.
Jide Idris, director-general of the NCDC, spoke at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, saying the second suspected case in Rivers state tested negative.
He said the centre had identified 53 primary contacts and was monitoring people who may have been exposed to the confirmed case.
“We have established two suspected cases and 53 primary contact links. They are primary contacts. We have an isolation centre and a quarantine centre,” Idris said.
He noted that the confirmed case involved a 42-year-old woman who returned to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3, 2026, arriving in Abuja on an international flight.
According to Idris, the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private health facility on October 10. She presented at another private facility the following day, where she was admitted.
The NCDC was notified on October 19, after which it conducted an investigation and collected samples. The agency’s National Reference Laboratory confirmed the infection on October 20.
He said the woman presented with fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat. Idris said she did not report any bleeding.
Idris said about 12 public and private laboratories were available to test for Ebola, adding that the NCDC had strengthened its laboratory capacity to ensure suspected cases were promptly investigated.
The agency urged public and private healthcare facilities to strengthen screening, triage and infection prevention measures and ensure healthcare workers had adequate personal protective equipment.
Idris also urged people contacted by public health officials to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and symptoms.
