The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified two additional suspected cases of Ebola virus disease and 53 primary contacts as health authorities continue to monitor the situation and assess the risk of further transmission.
Politics Nigeria reports that the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday.
The announcement comes amid efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, identify possible infections and ensure that individuals who may have been exposed to the virus receive the necessary attention.
According to the information released at the briefing, the two suspected cases are being treated as part of ongoing efforts to establish the extent of the potential health threat.
However, further details about the individuals, including their locations, symptoms and the circumstances surrounding their suspected infections, were not immediately provided in the initial announcement.
The identification of 53 primary contacts is also a significant part of the public health response.
Contact tracing allows health officials to identify people who may have had direct exposure to a suspected or confirmed case and monitor them for signs of illness.
The NCDC is expected to provide additional information as investigations progress and more details become available.
The latest development follows the Federal Government’s confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20, 2026.
The patient, a woman who had recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda, tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease and was placed in isolation for treatment.
Before the latest announcement, health authorities had identified 44 contacts linked to the confirmed case.
The additional 53 primary contacts disclosed by Idris could indicate that investigations have expanded or identified further people requiring monitoring.
However, it remains unclear whether all the contacts are linked to the original confirmed case or include individuals associated with the two newly suspected cases.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has also directed healthcare facilities to remain alert for possible infections and report suspected cases promptly.
Public health teams are working with relevant authorities to identify people who may have been exposed and monitor their health.
Ebola virus disease is a serious illness that can cause severe symptoms and may be fatal.
It spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is symptomatic, or with contaminated objects and materials. It can also spread through contact with infected animals.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Some patients may develop unexplained bleeding, although bleeding does not occur in every case.
Health officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of early detection and isolation to reduce the risk of transmission.
People who develop symptoms and have a relevant travel or exposure history are advised to seek medical attention and inform healthcare workers about their circumstances.
Members of the public are also advised to avoid direct contact with anyone suspected of having Ebola and to practise regular hand hygiene.
The Federal Government had earlier said that genetic analysis showed the virus identified in Nigeria was related to the virus detected in Kenya.
However, officials cautioned that this finding alone did not establish a direct transmission link between the two cases. Further investigations were still required to determine their epidemiological relationship.
Further details are expected from the NCDC as investigations continue, including information about the locations of the suspected cases, their exposure histories and the results of laboratory tests.
As of the latest previously reported official update on October 24, the Federal Government maintained that Nigeria had one confirmed Ebola case, while monitoring contacts and awaiting some test results.
The two additional suspected cases announced by Idris would need to be assessed before any increase in confirmed infections could be established.
The NCDC is expected to provide further updates as the situation develops.
Until then, Nigerians have been urged to follow official health advisories, avoid spreading unverified information and cooperate with public health officials carrying out contact tracing and other response activities.
