Suspected Cases Of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Tested Negative For Ebola, Marburg – NCDC
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced that the two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses.
In an advisory issued on Friday, the agency said they were currently testing samples for other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa Fever and Dengue fever.
According to the NCDC, “the most recent case involved a traveler who, after returning to Nigeria from Kigali, responsibly presented himself immediately to a hospital in Abuja when he felt unwell.
“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 minimized.
“This responsible action is highly commendable and a good practice all Nigerians are urged to emulate; when you feel unwell, especially after travel, seek care early. Doing so protects you, your family, and your community”.
The agency commend the clinicians and staff at the Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, whose high index of suspicion and immediate reporting triggered a rapid, coordinated response.
“We also recognize the FCT Epidemiology and Rapid Response Teams, the Port Health Services, the National Reference Laboratory, airline and immigration partners, and other stakeholders whose swift collaboration with NCDC demonstrates the strength of Nigeria’s preparedness system.
“Together, their actions exemplify how vigilance and teamwork prevent potential public-health emergencies”, they said.
Speaking on measres taken to protect Nigerians, the agency said, “we are currently collating and analyzing all the relevant data and information to improve our response. As part of its mandate to safeguard the health of the nation, the NCDC has already conducted a Dynamic Risk Assessment following recent reports of Ebola viral disease in other countries, and anticipatory measures are being implemented nationwide.
“We have activated multidisciplinary collaboration with federal and state health authorities, strengthening surveillance at points of entry, placed isolation/treatment facilities on alert, and prepositioning critical infection-prevention and related case management supplies.
“The NCDC national reference laboratories remain on standby to provide rapid testing, and public-health teams are ready to conduct contact tracing if needed.
“Beyond these immediate steps, NCDC is also working with states and partners to strengthen readiness across all 36 states and the FCT. This includes upgrading isolation facilities, reinforcing IPC training for healthcare workers, conducting simulation exercises, and ensuring a clear pathway for access to medical countermeasures such as vaccines and therapeutics if ever required”.
The agency however urged states, healthcare workers, and facilities, State Governments and Ministries of Health to continue to support disease-surveillance officers, ensure isolation centers were functional, and provide necessary resources for rapid response.
“Healthcare workers in both public and private facilities must maintain a high index of suspicion, always apply strict infection-prevention measures, and report unusual cases immediately through the established IDSR channels. Private hospitals in particular play a critical role in early detection and must be fully integrated into surveillance and preparedness efforts at all levels”, they said.
Nigerians were also urged to:
“Practice good hand hygiene – wash hands with soap under running water or use alcohol-based sanitizers.
“Avoid contact with symptomatic persons – do not touch anyone with unexplained fever, bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Minimize animal-to-human risk – avoid contact with fruit bats, monkeys, or apes; handle animals with gloves and protective clothing; ensure animal products are thoroughly cooked before eating.
“Avoid contact with body fluids – including blood, vomit, saliva, urine, or other fluids from suspected or confirmed cases.
“Seek help immediately – if you or someone with a travel history to affected countries develops symptoms, call 6232 or your State Ministry of Health hotline for guidance.
“Avoid rumors: rely on official and authorized sources – we strongly caution against sharing unverified and unauthorized messages or rumors on social media platforms. Misinformation fuels fear and stigma, discourages people from seeking care, reporting events of public health importance and undermines public-health response. Please rely only on official updates from NCDC and authorized government sources”.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a severe, often deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25-90%. There are 5 distinct species of this Virus: Bundibugyo, Reston, Tai Forest, Sudan, and the Zaire (the one responsible for the current case in the DRC).
People become infected with Ebola ether through contact with infected live or dead animals (usually following butchering, cooking or eating) or through contact with the body fluids of infected humans.
Most cases are caused by human-to-human transmission which occurs when blood or bodily fluids or secretions (stool, urine, semen) of infected people enter a person’s body through broken skin or mucous membranes.
During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members or others in close contact with the deceased, infected people and mourners who have direct contact with bodies during burial rituals.
