Health authorities in Nigeria have isolated two individuals in the North-East region following suspected Ebola virus infections, initiating contact tracing and rapid laboratory testing across affected communities.
​The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) issued an official public health update from its National Reference Laboratory and Incident Coordination Centre in Abuja on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
According to the release, both individuals were promptly placed in designated isolation facilities as medical teams conduct epidemiologic investigations and laboratory diagnostics to determine whether the infections are confirmed.
​Speaking on behalf of the agency, an NCDC spokesperson emphasized that the preliminary classification of the cases does not indicate a positive diagnosis.
​”Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is strictly subject to incoming laboratory results,” the NCDC stated in its official epidemiological bulletin. “Contact identification and listing are ongoing, and laboratory samples are undergoing processing.”
​The development comes 11 days after Nigerian health authorities confirmed an index case of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. That initial case involved a 42-year-old traveler in the Federal Capital Territory who had recently arrived from East Africa.
The patient was isolated and subsequently evacuated for specialized medical treatment, placing public health teams nationwide on high alert.
​In response to the potential threat, the NCDC has partnered with State Ministries of Health and technical experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) deployed to Abuja to reinforce surveillance protocols across primary healthcare centers, border posts, and regional medical facilities.
​Public health advisories issued on Saturday urge citizens to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified rumors. Health officials advise the public to maintain strict hand hygiene and implement enhanced sanitation practices across local communities.
Anyone experiencing a sudden onset of fever or unexplained symptoms is urged to report immediately to public health authorities via the national toll-free health line at 6232.
​Health authorities confirmed that further verified updates will be released as soon as laboratory results from the National Reference Laboratory are finalised.
