Nigeria’s health authorities are investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease in Rivers State following confirmation of an earlier infection involving a 42-year-old woman.

Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Idris said the suspected case in Rivers had not been confirmed, stressing that the two cases identified by the agency comprise the confirmed index case and another case still under investigation.

The NCDC has identified 53 primary contacts linked to the confirmed case and is monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.

The agency said isolation and quarantine facilities were available as part of its response.

The investigation comes as health officials work to establish whether the suspected case represents another infection and to limit the possibility of further transmission.

According to Idris, the confirmed case involves a 42-year-old woman who travelled from Uganda to Nigeria through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 3.

She arrived in Abuja on an international flight and reportedly began experiencing symptoms on October 7.

The woman visited a private health facility on October 10 and sought care at another private facility the following day, where she was admitted.

The NCDC was notified of the case on October 19. The agency subsequently launched an investigation and collected samples for laboratory testing.

Nigeria’s National Reference Laboratory confirmed the Ebola infection on October 20.

Idris said the woman presented with fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat. She did not report any bleeding.

The information released by the NCDC establishes the timeline of her travel, symptoms and diagnosis, although the report does not provide further details about her current condition.

Contact Tracing Underway

The NCDC has identified 53 primary contacts associated with the confirmed case and is monitoring people who may have been exposed.

Contact tracing is a central part of controlling Ebola outbreaks because it allows health authorities to identify people who may have encountered an infected person and monitor them for symptoms.

The agency is seeking cooperation from people contacted by public health officials, urging them to provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and any symptoms they may develop.

The NCDC has also established isolation and quarantine facilities to support its response.

However, the agency has not confirmed the suspected Rivers State case, and the report does not establish that any additional infections have occurred.

Idris said about 12 public and private laboratories were available to conduct Ebola testing in Nigeria.

He added that the NCDC had strengthened laboratory capacity to ensure suspected cases could be investigated promptly.

The agency has also urged public and private healthcare facilities to improve screening and triage procedures, strengthen infection prevention and control measures, and ensure healthcare workers have adequate personal protective equipment.

These measures are intended to help health workers recognise suspected infections early and reduce the risk of transmission within healthcare facilities.

Ebola can cause severe illness, making early identification, appropriate infection-control procedures and timely laboratory testing important components of outbreak management.

The NCDC’s call for preparedness reflects the need for hospitals and laboratories to remain alert while investigations into suspected infections continue.

The NCDC has urged members of the public who are contacted by health officials to cooperate fully with contact-tracing efforts.

Providing accurate information about travel, movements, contacts and symptoms can help investigators determine who may have been exposed and whether further testing or monitoring is necessary.

For now, the agency’s reported findings comprise one confirmed Ebola infection and a second suspected case under investigation in Rivers State.

The NCDC has not reported a newly confirmed infection in the Rivers investigation. Authorities will need laboratory evidence and further investigation before determining whether the suspected case is Ebola.

The agency’s immediate priorities remain tracing contacts, investigating the suspected case and ensuring healthcare facilities are prepared to identify and manage any additional infections.