Photo File: Ebola Virus

Abuja– The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has dispelled fears of an Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stating that the suspected index case has tested negative for both Ebola and Marburg viruses.

In an official update shared via its handle on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the agency disclosed that while the patient tested negative for the two deadly viral haemorrhagic fevers, further investigations are ongoing for other VHFs such as Lassa fever and Dengue fever.

 “Thanks to early reporting by a traveller and the swift action of vigilant health workers, the risk to the public was minimised.”

The NCDC urged Nigerians to seek immediate medical attention when unwell, especially after recent travel, and cautioned against spreading unverified information.

“feel unwell, especially after travel, seek medical care immediately. Wash hands regularly & practise good hygiene. Avoid contact with anyone showing unexplained fever, bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Rely only on official NCDC updates. Say no to rumours,” If you the Centre added.

The clarification comes after concerns were raised over a suspected case involving a passenger on a Rwanda Air flight to Abuja who was believed to be exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms.

In a related development, the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, in a signed statement, reaffirmed that:

“We wish to inform the public that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses.”

He added that the Centre is now conducting further tests to identify the cause of illness in the patients.

Dr. Idris particularly commended the actions of one of the patients, a traveller who voluntarily presented himself at a hospital in Abuja after returning from Kigali, Rwanda.

“His decision to report early, combined with the vigilance of the attending clinician and hospital team, ensured that our public health system was promptly activated and that the risk to the public was minimised.
This responsible action is highly commendable and a good practice all Nigerians are urged to emulate,” he said.

The NCDC reiterated the importance of early reporting, responsible health behaviour, and vigilance in preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases.