NCDC Identifies Two Suspected Cases Of Ebola In North-East

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified two suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in the North-East region of the country, confirming that both individuals have been placed in isolation pending laboratory confirmation.

The public health agency disclosed the development in an official statement published on its verified X handle on Saturday, reassuring the public that contact identification, tracing, and sample testing are actively ongoing.

Health authorities emphasized that the classification of the individuals as suspected cases does not equate to a positive diagnosis, noting that definitive confirmation remains subject to laboratory analysis.

“Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region. Both individuals have been isolated, contact identification and listing is ongoing, and laboratory testing is being conducted,” the NCDC stated.

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

“The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities. Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available,” the statement added.

The discovery comes days after the health agency expanded its contact tracing network to include an e-hailing driver linked to the initial index patient, raising the total number of primary contacts under surveillance to 54.

Speaking on Channels Television on October 26, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris emphasized that public health teams are working aggressively to track all secondary contacts across affected jurisdictions.

“So we are not out of the woods yet until we are sure that we have all the contacts, and they have been followed up. So we are still not out of the woods; because the index case is out doesn’t mean that we don’t have that,” Dr. Idris noted.

Federal authorities initially confirmed Nigeria’s first case of the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain in Abuja on October 20, 2026, involving a female patient who arrived from Uganda on October 3 and presented with symptoms on October 7.

Although Ugandan health officials disputed reports of an active outbreak within their borders, the index patient and her spouse were subsequently airlifted to Switzerland for specialized medical care.