NCDC Reports Two New Suspected Ebola Cases in North-east

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two new suspected cases of Ebola disease in the North-east, 11 days after Nigeria confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo strain.

The agency disclosed this in an update on its official X account on Saturday, October 31, saying both individuals had been isolated while contact tracing was ongoing.

It added that laboratory tests were being conducted to determine whether they had contracted the virus, stressing that suspected cases should not be mistaken for confirmed infections.

The NCDC has yet to disclose the states where the two suspected cases were identified. 

However, its Director-General, Jide Idris, said investigations were also considering recent movements within the country to ensure all possible contacts were identified and monitored.

Idris urged Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified information and maintain basic hygiene practices, including regular handwashing and the use of alcohol-based sanitisers. 

He also advised anyone experiencing unusual symptoms to seek immediate medical attention at designated health facilities.

Nigeria is among five countries that have reported cases of the Bundibugyo strain in an outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026.

Nigeria confirmed its first case on October 20 after a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja tested positive. She was later evacuated to Switzerland for continued treatment.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, 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.

According to the World Health Organization, the affected countries had recorded a combined 10,305 confirmed cases and 4,996 deaths as of October 28.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for 10,274 cases and 4,992 deaths, while Uganda recorded 20 cases and two deaths. Kenya reported nine cases and two deaths, Nigeria one case, and France one imported case.

The NCDC says it will provide further updates as investigations into the two suspected cases progress.