Two suspected fever cases test negative for Ebola – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in Abuja have tested negative for both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus.

The NCDC, in a public health advisory issued on Friday and signed by its Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, noted that further tests were ongoing for other haemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever and dengue fever.

The advisory comes amid public concern and speculation following reports of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases in Abuja.

Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, is a severe, often deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25–90 per cent.

The NCDC said people become infected with Ebola either through contact with infected live or dead animals (usually following butchering, cooking, or eating) or through contact with the body fluids of infected humans.

“The NCDC wishes to inform the public that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses. We are currently testing samples for other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa fever and dengue fever,” the advisory partly read.

The most recent case involved a traveller 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 minimised.

“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.

“We deeply commend the clinicians and staff at the Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, whose high index of suspicion and immediate reporting triggered a rapid, coordinated response,” NCDC added.

The centre noted that it has commenced the collation and analysis of relevant data and information to improve its responses following recent reports of Ebola viral disease in other countries.