Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that additional suspected Ebola cases investigated in Nigeria tested negative, while health authorities continue to monitor 53 contacts linked to the country’s confirmed infection.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development comes amid heightened public health surveillance following the confirmation of Ebola in a 42-year-old woman in Abuja who reportedly travelled to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
NCDC identified another suspected case in Rivers State during its investigation. However, subsequent testing returned a negative result, indicating that the suspected case was not confirmed as Ebola.
The NCDC’s situation report also documented 53 primary contacts associated with the confirmed patient. Health officials are monitoring the contacts for possible symptoms and other indications of infection.
The confirmed patient reportedly arrived in Abuja on October 3, 2026, and developed symptoms on October 7. She subsequently sought medical attention at private health facilities before the NCDC was notified.
Laboratory testing confirmed the infection on October 20, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention measures.
The agency has continued working with state health authorities and healthcare facilities to identify potential cases and prevent further transmission.
As part of its response, the NCDC has urged healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for Ebola, promptly report suspected cases and follow appropriate infection prevention and control procedures.
The agency has also encouraged members of the public to cooperate with health officials conducting contact tracing and to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after a possible exposure.
Although the confirmed infection has prompted increased surveillance, health authorities continue to investigate potential exposures and monitor contacts to reduce the risk of further transmission.
