Fresh fears of an Ebola outbreak have emerged in the country following the identification and isolation of two suspected cases in the North-East.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed on Saturday that laboratory tests were being conducted on the two individuals, while contact tracing had commenced to identify people who might have been exposed to the virus.
The agency, however, cautioned that the classification of the individuals as suspected cases did not mean they had tested positive for Ebola, stressing that confirmation would depend on laboratory results.
In an update posted on its X handle, the NCDC said both individuals had been isolated and contact identification and listing were ongoing.
“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 agency stated.
“Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results.”
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, also confirmed the development in a post on his LinkedIn page, saying rapid response teams had intensified surveillance and were tracking the recent movements of the suspected cases within the country.
He urged Nigerians to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while observing basic hygiene measures, including regular handwashing and the use of alcohol-based sanitisers.
Idris also advised anyone experiencing unusual symptoms to seek immediate medical attention at designated health facilities, promising further updates when laboratory results were confirmed.
Meanwhile, NCDC said laboratory results for the two suspected cases were expected within 12 hours of receiving their samples, as health authorities intensify surveillance to prevent the spread of the disease.
The NCDC Incident Manager for Ebola, Dr Odianosen Ehiakhamen, disclosed this during an appearance on the Nigerian Television Authority’s Weekend File programme on Saturday evening.
He said the samples were taken to the laboratory on Saturday afternoon, but testing was still ongoing as of Saturday night, with the agency awaiting the findings to determine the next line of response.
He added that the affected state had commenced contact tracing while awaiting the laboratory results.
“As I was coming to the studio, we were still running those samples, and I am sure when those results are available, they will be sent to the state concerned,” he said.
Ehiakhamen stressed that the two individuals remained suspected cases and that their status would only be established after laboratory testing.
The incident manager explained that contact tracing was central to preventing further transmission, adding that people identified as contacts should not be confused with confirmed cases.
“Contact tracing and surveillance are key to epidemic response. For us, our first case, we were able to identify 62 contacts. It is important that we note that contacts are not cases. They are people who have been exposed directly or indirectly to the confirmed case,” he said.
Ehiakhamen disclosed that six people who had completed the required 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms were expected to leave the quarantine facility on Sunday.
The group included three people who had managed the patient at health facilities, two members of her domestic staff and her driver.
Meanwhile, a public health expert at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr Francis Emmanuel, said effective public health preparedness should go beyond responding to emergencies, stressing the importance of transparency, timely communication and efficient surveillance in building public trust.
“Isolating suspected cases, conducting prompt laboratory tests and tracing contacts are critical steps in containing potential threats,” he said.
At this stage, accurate information is more valuable than speculation. Nigerians must remain calm, practise good hygiene and rely on verified updates from health authorities. Preparedness, vigilance and collective responsibility remain our strongest line of defence.”
The development comes days after the Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first imported case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja on October 20, 2026.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, had said the infected woman arrived in Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms on October 7 before seeking medical attention at a private hospital in Abuja on October 11.
Following the confirmation, health authorities initially identified 44 contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who might have travelled with the patient. The number subsequently increased to 53, with those identified placed under surveillance.
The infected woman was evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 alongside her husband, who had remained asymptomatic.
Pate said she was clinically stable at the time of evacuation but warned that she could still transmit the virus.
Meanwhile, a Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Aisha Abubakar, said it was too early to determine whether the two newly suspected cases in the North-East were imported infections or locally transmitted.
She said the NCDC had yet to provide information about the individuals’ travel history, possible exposure or relationship with the previously confirmed case.
“For these two suspected cases now, we don’t have any information apart from what the NCDC have said. We are waiting for more clarity on whether these are imported cases or whether they are contacts of the confirmed case that we had on the 20th,” she said.
Abubakar urged the NCDC to provide further details about the suspected cases to enable Nigerians to understand the situation and the appropriate preventive measures.
She said monitoring identified contacts was necessary to determine whether exposed individuals developed symptoms and to prevent possible further transmission.
The epidemiologist also called on the Federal Government to strengthen disease surveillance, public awareness and emergency response mechanisms, noting that Nigeria’s international travel connections made preparedness particularly important.
“Nigeria is a very popular destination and Nigerians are also avid travellers. So, we need to be prepared. When the outbreak started and there started to be exportations of the disease in different countries, it was not a matter of whether we would have infection,” she said.
She advised Nigerians returning from countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks to report to health authorities if they developed symptoms such as fever, tiredness, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The NCDC urged the public to remain vigilant, practise good hygiene and follow official guidance as laboratory investigations and contact tracing continue.
