Nigeria Probes Two Suspected Ebola Cases in the Northeast as Lab Tests Continue

Nigeria's disease control agency says two people in the country's northeast have been isolated as suspected Ebola cases, with contact tracing and laboratory testing under way. The cases are not confirmed — but if they are, it could mean the virus has spread inside Nigeria after its first case in more than a decade was confirmed on October 20.

Awaaz Punjab Investigations Desk1 November 20264 min readRead in all 3 languages

ABUJA — Health authorities in Nigeria are investigating two suspected cases of Ebola in the country's northeast region, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said on Saturday, in a development that could show the virus spreading inside the country.

Source: Reuters, Oct 31, 2026

The two individuals have been isolated while officials carry out contact identification and listing, and laboratory testing is being conducted, the NCDC said in a statement posted on X. The agency stressed that being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases, and that confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

Source: Al Jazeera / NCDC, Oct 31, 2026

Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20, in a Swiss woman who had travelled to Uganda and then returned to the capital, Abuja, in central Nigeria, Reuters reported. That patient was later medically evacuated to Switzerland, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The two additional cases, if confirmed, could mean that the disease has spread within Nigeria, which would be a major public health concern, Reuters reported. Authorities did not say whether the northeast cases were believed to be linked to the first case. The NCDC did not identify the state or the health facility involved, and did not provide the two individuals' travel histories.

Response teams were already following contacts of the earlier confirmed infection. An ECDC update on October 30 said 62 contacts had been identified and were under follow-up as of October 29. The NCDC has advised the public to maintain good hand hygiene and follow guidance from public health authorities while the test results are awaited.

The wider outbreak is of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May and has become the largest in that country's history, with more than 10,300 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths reported. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, which is why health agencies move quickly to isolate suspected cases and trace every contact.

Sources

Reuters, Oct 31, 2026 — Nigeria reports two suspected Ebola cases in northeast region (NCDC statement on X, Saturday: two isolated, contact identification/listing, lab testing; suspected not confirmed; first case in over a decade confirmed Oct 20, Swiss woman via Uganda to Abuja; if confirmed could mean spread within Nigeria; link to first case not stated) — https://duke.fm/2026/10/31/nigeria-reports-two-suspected-ebola-cases-in-northeast-region-2/

Al Jazeera, Oct 31, 2026 — Health authorities probe two suspected Ebola cases in northeast Nigeria (NCDC: both isolated, contact tracing and lab testing under way; wider Bundibugyo outbreak in Congo, over 10,300 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths) — https://www.byteseu.com/2488794/

Okay News / ECDC, Oct 30-31, 2026 — NCDC isolates two suspected Ebola cases in North-East (statement Oct 31 ~3:01pm WAT; state/facility and travel histories not given; ECDC Oct 30 update: 62 contacts under follow-up as of Oct 29; index patient evacuated to Switzerland) — https://www.okaynews.com/ncdc-isolates-two-suspected-ebola-cases-in-north-east-as-tests-continue/