The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja tested negative for both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus.
In a public health advisory issued on Friday and signed by its Director General, Dr Jide Idris, the NCDC stated that further tests are ongoing for other viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever and dengue fever.
The advisory comes amid public concern following reports of suspected hemorrhagic fever cases in the nation’s capital.
Ebola, formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a severe and often fatal disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a reported fatality rate of 25–90 percent. Infection typically occurs through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. Human-to-human transmission happens when blood or other fluids such as urine, stool, or semen enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes. Common symptoms include sudden fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.
“The NCDC wishes to inform the public that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses. We are currently testing samples for other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa fever and dengue fever,” the advisory partly read.
The most recent case involved a traveller returning from Kigali who promptly reported to a hospital in Abuja after feeling unwell.
“His decision to report early, coupled with the vigilance of the attending clinicians, ensured that our public health system was promptly activated and public risk was minimised. This responsible action is highly commendable and a practice all Nigerians are urged to emulate,” the NCDC said.
The agency also praised the Nisa Premier Hospital staff, FCT Epidemiology and Rapid Response Teams, Port Health Services, the National Reference Laboratory, airline and immigration partners, and other stakeholders for their swift coordination, describing it as an example of Nigeria’s preparedness system in action.
Following recent Ebola outbreaks in other countries, the NCDC said anticipatory measures have been activated nationwide. These include heightened surveillance at ports of entry, alerting isolation facilities, prepositioning infection-prevention supplies, and keeping national reference laboratories on standby for rapid testing. Public health teams are also ready to conduct contact tracing if needed.
The agency encouraged states to strengthen surveillance, keep isolation centres ready, and ensure healthcare workers—especially in private facilities—adhere to strict infection-prevention measures and report unusual cases promptly. Nigerians were further advised to maintain good hygiene, avoid risky contact with animals, seek medical care immediately after travel if symptoms arise, and rely solely on official updates from the NCDC.
Suspected cases can be reported through the NCDC Connect Centre via toll-free number 6232, WhatsApp at +234 708 711 0839, SMS at +234 809 955 5577, or email at info@ncdc.gov.ng.
According to the World Health Organization, 48 confirmed and probable Ebola cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 31 fatalities.
