The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that two new suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in the North East state of Adamawa tested negative. This development comes barely five days after the first imported case of Ebola virus disease was evacuated to Switzerland. According to NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, the cases were identified in Yola, Adamawa State, and were isolated with contact identification and laboratory testing ongoing.
The NCDC had initially reported that two suspected cases were identified in the North-east, and laboratory testing was being conducted to determine whether the individuals had contracted the disease. The agency clarified that being classified as suspected cases did not mean the individuals had tested positive for Ebola, stressing that confirmation would depend on laboratory results. The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation, and follow guidance from public health authorities.
Dr. Jide Idris stated that samples were collected for laboratory testing to establish the cause of the illness, and fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EBV after two rounds of testing. He clarified that there was no laboratory-confirmed EVD case in Adamawa State, adding that the index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remained the only confirmed case in Nigeria.
The NCDC had initially identified two suspected cases of the disease in the North-east geopolitical zone, and both individuals were isolated with contact identification and listing ongoing. The agency did not disclose the particular state at the time. The development came less than two weeks after the federal government confirmed Nigeria’s first imported case of the virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on a date in 2026.
The patient, a woman who had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria, tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain and was subsequently isolated and treated by Nigerian health workers. Announcing the first case of the disease, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, stated that the infected woman had travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms before seeking medical attention at a private hospital in Abuja.
While commending the Adamawa State Government for its proactive response, Dr. Idris urged the public to remain calm, avoid sharing unverified information, and continue to practise good hand hygiene and enhanced sanitation. He assured that NCDC would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as verified information becomes available.
The NCDC continues to work to prevent the spread of the disease, and the public is advised to follow guidance from public health authorities. Key efforts include maintaining good hand hygiene, practising enhanced sanitation, and avoiding the spread of unverified information.
Key points
- The two suspected Ebola cases in Adamawa state tested negative.
- The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remains the only confirmed case in Nigeria.
- The public is urged to remain calm and practise good hand hygiene and enhanced sanitation.
