The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified two additional suspected cases of Ebola virus in the North-eastern part of the country.

According to the NCDC, both individuals have been isolated, with contact identification and listing ongoing, while laboratory testing is being conducted to establish possible exposure and prevent further transmission.

In a massage posted on his X handle on Saturday, Director General of NCDC , Dr Jide Idris explained that being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases adding that confirmation is subject to laboratory results.
He advised the public to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities.

The development comes amid heightened public health surveillance following Nigeria’s earlier response to an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola, involving a traveller from Uganda.

The agency urged members of the public to contact its toll-free line, 6232, or visit its official website for information and guidance adding that further updates would be provided as verified information becomes available, stressing the importance of relying on official information as investigations continue.
Following the evacuation of the index patient and her husband to Switzerland, Nigeria has no active case of Ebola virus.
Before the the latest update, NCDC was monitoring 54 primary contacts linked to the country’s index Ebola virus case.
The identified contacts included healthcare workers, domestic staff, and other individuals who might have been exposed during the course of medical care, sample collection or other relevant interactions.

The agency was however silent on particular state where the two new suspected cases were recorded and did not also disclose the number of contacts presently monitored.