Ebola, Marburg ruled out in Abuja case

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that the two suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever recently detected in Abuja tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses.

The development eases fears of a possible infiltration of either virus into Nigeria through international travellers.

In a public health advisory issued by the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, the NCDC disclosed that further tests are ongoing to check for other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Lassa fever and Dengue fever.

According to the statement, one of the cases involved a traveller who had just returned from Kigali, Rwanda, and reported to a hospital in Abuja after feeling unwell.

Dr. Idris commended the individual’s decision to seek medical attention early, noting that the vigilance of the attending clinicians enabled the immediate activation of the public health response system, which helped minimize any risk to the public.

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He further explained that the NCDC is collating and analysing data to strengthen future preparedness, adding that a Dynamic Risk Assessment has already been conducted in light of recent Ebola outbreaks in some African countries.

As part of its proactive measures, the agency has:

• Strengthened surveillance at points of entry,
• Placed isolation and treatment facilities on alert,
• Prepositioned infection-prevention supplies, and
• Activated collaborations with federal and state health authorities.

The NCDC also announced ongoing efforts to reinforce readiness across the 36 states and the FCT, including the upgrade of isolation facilities and additional infection-prevention training for healthcare workers.

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Dr. Idris urged state governments and health ministries to empower disease surveillance officers, ensure isolation centres remain operational, and allocate resources for swift outbreak responses.

He also reminded healthcare professionals in both public and private sectors to maintain a high index of suspicion, apply strict infection-prevention protocols, and report any unusual cases promptly through established IDSR (Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response) channels.