Nigeria’s health authorities have ruled out Ebola infection in two suspected cases identified in Adamawa State, following two rounds of laboratory testing.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that samples collected from the two individuals tested negative for the Ebola virus.
The development came hours after the agency announced that two suspected Ebola cases had been identified in Nigeria’s North-East, prompting their isolation and contact-tracing activities.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Jide Idris, on Saturday evening, the NCDC said the suspected cases were reported in Yola, Adamawa State, on October 30, after the individuals presented with symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
“Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EVD after two rounds of testing,” Idris said.
He confirmed that Adamawa currently had no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case.
The NCDC chief added that the previously confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory remained Nigeria’s only confirmed Ebola infection.
Nigeria’s Ebola surveillance continues
The development comes days after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in 2026, involving a woman who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain on October 20.
The woman had travelled from Uganda to Abuja and was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland for continued treatment.
According to the NCDC’s latest situation report, 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, also disclosed that genomic analysis showed the virus detected in the Nigerian patient was closely related to the strain identified in Kenya’s first imported case.
However, he clarified that the finding did not establish that the woman contracted the infection in Kenya.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) update reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of October 28. Kenya had recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths.
The NCDC continues to monitor identified contacts and strengthen disease surveillance as Nigeria works with relevant health authorities to prevent further transmission.
