Health
Ebola: NCDC raises importation risk, says Nigeria remains case-free
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged Nigerians to remain calm, assuring that the country currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The Director-General of NCDC, Jide Idris, gave the assurance during a media briefing on Friday in Lagos.
The briefing provided updates on the country’s preparedness and response efforts following outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Mr Idris said that since confirmation of the outbreaks in the region, the NCDC had intensified preparedness activities nationwide to ensure Nigeria remained ready to rapidly detect, investigate, contain and respond to any potential importation of the disease.
He explained that the agency had conducted a comprehensive dynamic risk assessment, which classified the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high.
According to him, the assessment reflects increasing regional transmission, international travel and population movement, porous borders, and the potential for delayed recognition because Ebola symptoms may resemble those of malaria and Lassa fever.
“As I speak, there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria,” he said.
“While there are currently no widely available licensed vaccines or approved treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus.
“Experience from previous outbreaks has demonstrated that early detection, rapid isolation, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, risk communication, and effective emergency coordination remain the most effective tools for preventing transmission and saving lives.
“Hence, we encourage Nigerians to remain calm and continue to do their normal activities.
“Members of the public should obtain information only from credible sources, avoid spreading rumours and misinformation, and promptly report any unusual illness through established public health channels,” Mr Idris said.
Highlighting key achievements of NCDC in preparedness, Mr Idris said readiness assessments were completed in 549 health facilities across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that the assessment of 17 designated treatment centres was completed to evaluate screening capacity, isolation readiness, infection prevention and control systems, healthcare workers’ protection, and treatment readiness.
Regarding training of staff and healthcare workers in the management of Ebola, Mr Idris said there was no mapped-out training, but managing Ebola, like every other pandemic, required adherence to the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) precautions.
READ ALSO: Ebola: WHO says DRC cases rise to 344, death toll reaches 60
The NCDC DG stated that there was a high level of surveillance at all entry points (borders) of the country, as the Centre was collaborating with the authorities who man the borders to ensure Ebola was not transmitted into the country.
According to him, preparedness is a shared responsibility, noting that while NCDC leads national coordination efforts, effective preventive and early response requires active collaboration among state governments, healthcare facilities, communities, development partners, and the public.
“Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014 through strong leadership, rapid detection, effective coordination, public trust, and collective action.
“Today, we are building on those lessons and strengthening preparedness even further.
“If Ebola should come into the country, Nigeria will contain it,” Mr Idris said. (NAN)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said two suspected Ebola cases identified in Adamawa State have tested negative for the virus.
The development came hours after the agency announced that two suspected Ebola cases had been identified in Nigeria’s North-east, without disclosing the state where they were found.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Jide Idris, on Saturday evening, the NCDC said the samples collected from the two individuals tested negative for Ebola virus after two rounds of testing.
The agency said the suspected cases were reported in Yola, Adamawa State, on 30 October after the two individuals presented with symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
“Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EVD after two rounds of testing,” Mr Idris said.
Mr Idris said there is currently no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State.
He added that the index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed Ebola case reported in Nigeria to date.
Ebola outbreak
The development comes 11 days after Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Nigeria is one of five countries that have detected Bundibugyo virus disease during the current outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May.
The outbreak has remained concentrated in the DRC but has spread beyond the country.
Nigeria’s first confirmed case of Ebola in 2026 was a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja and tested positive on 20 October. She was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland for continued treatment.
READ ALSO: Ebola: No new cases in Nigeria as two suspected cases in North-east test negative
The NCDC’s latest situation report said 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case had been identified and were being monitored.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, had said genomic analysis showed that the virus detected in the Nigerian patient was closely related to the strain identified in Kenya’s first imported case. He, however, said the finding did not establish that the Nigerian patient was infected in Kenya.
WHO’s latest update reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the DRC as of 28 October. Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths, while Nigeria has one confirmed case at the time of the update.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two new suspected cases of Ebola disease in Nigeria’s North-east region.
The agency disclosed this in an update posted on its official X account on Saturday, noting that both individuals had been isolated while contact identification and listing were ongoing.
“Laboratory testing is being conducted,” the NCDC said, adding that being classified as suspected cases does not mean the individuals have Ebola, as confirmation depends on laboratory results.
The agency urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities.
The development comes 11 days after Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The NCDC is yet to provide specific details on the states where the suspected cases were identified. In its post on X, the agency said, “Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.”
The NCDC Director-General Jide Idris in a post on Linkedin said contact tracing is also taking into account recent movements within the country to ensure all contacts are identified and monitored.
“We urge the public to avoid speculation or the spread of unverified information. Instead, we encourage everyone to reinforce basic but critical hygiene practices: frequent handwashing, use of alcohol-based sanitisers, and seeking immediate care at designated facilities if unusual symptoms arise,” Mr Idris noted.
Nigeria, regional outbreak
Nigeria is one of five countries that have detected Bundibugyo virus disease during the current outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May.
The outbreak has remained concentrated in the DRC but has spread beyond the country.
Nigeria’s first confirmed case of Ebola in 2026 was a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja and tested positive on 20 October. She was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland for continued treatment.
READ ALSO: Ebola: Africa CDC mourns as DRC doctor dies from virus
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, had earlier said genomic analysis showed that the virus detected in the Nigerian patient was closely related to the strain identified in Kenya’s first imported case.
As of 28 October, WHO reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 confirmed deaths in the DRC. The agency also recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths in Kenya, one confirmed case in Nigeria, 20 confirmed cases and two deaths in Uganda, and one imported case in France.
Overall, WHO reported 10,305 confirmed cases and 4,996 confirmed deaths across the affected countries.
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