Nigeria records two more suspected cases of Ebola – THISAGE

Nigeria has recorded two more suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the north-eastern region, with health authorities isolating those affected and launching investigations to determine whether they are infected.

The Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in an update posted on its official X account on Saturday, saying that laboratory testing and contact tracing activities were underway.

According to the agency, both people had been isolated as part of measures to prevent possible transmission while their samples underwent laboratory investigation.

The NCDC said public health officials are also identifying and documenting people who may have had contact with the suspected patients.

He cautioned, however, that classifying individuals as suspected cases does not prove that they have contracted the disease, explaining that confirmation will depend on the results of laboratory tests.

“Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the north-eastern region of Nigeria. Both individuals have been isolated, identification and contact listing is ongoing and laboratory testing is being conducted.

“Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed cases of Ebola; confirmation is subject to laboratory results,” the agency said.

He urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene, practice improved sanitation and follow preventive guidelines issued by public health authorities.

The NCDC also said that further information will be made available as verified details emerge from the ongoing investigation.

The latest development comes in the context of Nigeria’s response to an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, confirmed on October 20, 2026, involving a 42-year-old woman who had traveled from Uganda to Nigeria via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The woman arrived in Abuja on October 3 and reportedly developed symptoms on October 7. She subsequently sought medical treatment at a private healthcare facility before being admitted to another hospital on October 11.

The NCDC was informed on October 19, initiating investigations and laboratory tests that confirmed the infection the following day.

The patient was subsequently isolated and treated by Nigerian healthcare workers before being medically evacuated to Switzerland on 26 October following a formal request from her country.

Her husband, identified as a close contact, was also evacuated to Switzerland for isolation and monitoring.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in an update published on October 30, said Nigeria had identified 42 contacts linked to the confirmed case as of October 29, and all were being followed up.

The agency also reported that the confirmed patient was being treated at the University Hospital of Geneva, while her husband was in isolation at the University Hospital of Zurich. ECDC +1

The Bundibugyo virus belongs to the Ebola virus family and causes severe disease in humans. Infection can occur through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected people, as well as with contaminated materials.

Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, internal or external bleeding.

Nigeria’s current response has involved the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, state health authorities and international health partners, with surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and infection prevention measures forming part of the intervention.

The country has previous experience managing Ebola, having successfully contained an outbreak in 2014 after the virus was introduced to Lagos by a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

The outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed and probable cases and eight deaths before it was declared over by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October 2014.

The NCDC continued to urge health facilities to strengthen screening, early detection, isolation and infection prevention measures, while members of the public are advised to promptly report symptoms or suspected exposure to the relevant health authorities.

The agency said it will continue to provide updates on the two suspected cases in the Northeast as lab results and other verified information become available.

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