Nigeria: NCDC announces 2 new Ebola cases

Spread the word The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has isolated two additional suspected cases of Ebola disease in the North-East, as health authorities intensify surveillance and contact tracing, following the confirmation of an imported case of the virus in the country.

The agency disclosed this in an update on Saturday, October 31, 2026, saying laboratory investigations were ongoing to determine whether the two individuals had contracted the disease. Blueprint reports

According to the NCDC, contact identification and listing were also underway to establish whether other persons might have been exposed to the suspected cases and monitor their health.

The agency, however, cautioned that classification as a suspected case does not amount to confirmation of Ebola infection, stressing that the outcome of laboratory investigations would determine their status.

The NCDC did not disclose the identities of the individuals, the states in which they were identified, their travel histories or the circumstances that led to their isolation.

The development comes 11 days after Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain in the current regional outbreak, involving a 42-year-old woman with a travel history from Uganda.

It also comes amid heightened regional surveillance following the spread of the disease across parts of Central and East Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recording thousands of infections and Kenya reporting imported and secondary cases.

Nigeria confirmed its first case of the current outbreak on October 20 after laboratory tests established that a woman who arrived in Abuja from Uganda had contracted the Bundibugyo virus.

The patient, according to the NCDC’s October 29 situation report, arrived in Nigeria on October 3, developed symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private health facility in Abuja on October 11, 2026.

The agency was notified of the suspected infection on October 19, prompting investigations and the collection of samples for laboratory analysis.

Following confirmation of the infection on October 20, the patient was isolated and placed under medical care, while health authorities activated a coordinated response to prevent further transmission.

The NCDC subsequently disclosed that the patient was clinically stable and was evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 following a formal request from her country and clearance from Nigerian authorities.

The evacuation was carried out under medical and infection prevention protocols to protect healthcare workers and other persons involved in the process.

Although the patient was no longer receiving treatment in Nigeria after the evacuation, health authorities continued to monitor individuals identified as contacts of the confirmed case.

The development also underscored the importance of international coordination in managing infectious disease outbreaks, particularly where patients have travelled across national borders before their infections are detected.

The NCDC’s October 29 situation report showed that 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case had been identified, categorised and placed under follow-up.

The agency said the contacts were being monitored, with follow-up periods expected to run into November, depending on the dates of their last possible exposure.

It explained that contact tracing involved identifying individuals who might have had relevant exposure to the confirmed patient, assessing their level of risk and monitoring their health for the required period.

The NCDC also disclosed that 18 samples had been tested as of October 29, with one returning positive and 17 negative.

The negative results included samples from 15 contacts of the confirmed patient and two other suspected cases.

In the same report, the agency recorded a suspected case from Enugu State that returned a negative laboratory result, while noting that no new contacts or symptomatic contacts had been identified in the preceding 24 hours.

The two suspected cases now reported in the North-East represent a fresh development in the country’s surveillance efforts, although the NCDC has yet to establish whether they are connected to the confirmed case in Abuja.

The agency has also not disclosed whether the individuals had any known exposure to the confirmed patient or a history of travel to areas affected by the outbreak.

Nigeria’s latest development is taking place against the background of a major regional outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo bearing the heaviest burden.

In its October 23 disease outbreak update, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the DRC had recorded 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths as of October 20.

The infections were reported across 66 health zones in eight provinces, with the WHO putting the crude case fatality ratio at 48.3 per cent.

The agency said sustained transmission was continuing in the DRC, while the high number of deaths recorded in communities highlighted challenges associated with early detection and timely access to medical care.

Kenya also reported nine cases, including one death, as of October 20, following the detection of an imported infection in a person who had travelled from the DRC through Uganda.

The eight additional cases were identified among known contacts of the initial patient, according to the WHO, which said there was no evidence at the time of wider community transmission in Kenya.

Nigeria became the fifth country to detect the virus since the outbreak was declared in the DRC on May 15, 2026.

The other countries identified in the WHO update were the DRC, Uganda, France and Kenya.

Uganda, which featured in the travel history of Nigeria’s confirmed patient, had earlier announced the end of its Bundibugyo virus outbreak following 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case.

The WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced the development on August 27, after Uganda completed the internationally recognised 42-day monitoring period following the discharge of its last patient on July 16.

Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases during its outbreak, including two deaths, while 18 patients recovered.

Fifteen of the infections were imported from the DRC, while five were locally acquired among contacts and healthcare workers linked to imported cases.

More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored during the response.

The WHO said Uganda’s response involved early case detection, laboratory confirmation, contact tracing, isolation, clinical care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.

Although Uganda’s outbreak was declared over, the WHO warned that the continued transmission in the DRC and cross-border movement within the region made sustained surveillance necessary.

The Nigerian case also highlighted the importance of investigating travel and exposure histories when suspected infections are identified.

Following the confirmation of the Abuja case, the NCDC said it had activated a coordinated national response involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT health authorities, relevant government agencies and technical partners.

The agency’s response has included contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control measures, surveillance and the strengthening of isolation and treatment facilities.

In an October 25 address, the NCDC Director-General said the national response was being coordinated through an Incident Management System and an Emergency Operations Centre.

The agency also explained that persons identified as contacts of an Ebola patient should not automatically be regarded as infected, as contact identification is a public health measure designed to assess exposure and monitor possible symptoms.

It urged Nigerians contacted by public health officials to cooperate fully and provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and any symptoms they might have experienced.

The NCDC further advised members of the public to maintain proper hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and comply with guidance issued by public health authorities.

It urged Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified information and rely on official updates as investigations into the two suspected cases in the North-East continue.

The agency said further information would be provided as verified details became available and advised members of the public seeking guidance to contact its toll-free line, 6232, or visit its official website.