The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has ruled out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in two suspected cases reported in Yola, Adamawa State, following two rounds of laboratory testing.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, October 31, saying samples collected from the two individuals returned negative results.
According to Idris, the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) received an alert in the early hours of October 30 after two individuals presented with symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
The individuals were immediately isolated, while health authorities activated appropriate public health measures and collected samples for laboratory investigation.
Idris commended the Adamawa State Government, particularly the Commissioner for Health and his team, for their prompt response, assuring residents that the NCDC would continue providing technical support to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response.
He stressed that there was no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State, adding that the previously confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remained Nigeria’s only confirmed case.
The Adamawa development comes amid heightened surveillance following the country’s confirmation of an imported case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus on October 20, 2026.
The confirmed patient was a woman who had recently travelled from Uganda and was diagnosed after presenting at a private health facility in Abuja. She was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 for continued medical care, following clearance by Nigerian authorities.
The NCDC’s October 29 situation report showed that 62 contacts linked to the confirmed case had been identified and placed under monitoring. No symptomatic contacts were reported in the 24-hour reporting period covered by the report.
The WHO has identified the current outbreak as one involving the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, which was first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May 2026. Nigeria became one of the countries to report an imported case as the outbreak spread beyond the DRC.
Idris has urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, advising the public to rely on official government and public health channels for accurate updates.
He also warned that Ebola is a serious infectious disease requiring early detection, prompt medical attention and strict infection prevention and control measures.
Members of the public experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly after possible exposure, have been advised to seek immediate medical attention and disclose relevant travel and contact histories to healthcare workers.
The NCDC also cautioned against self-medication, urging Nigerians to follow the guidance of qualified health professionals.
The agency said it would continue working with the Adamawa State Government and other stakeholders to monitor the situation and provide updates as verified information becomes available.