NCDC rules out Ebola, marburg in Abuja as suspected cases are negative

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja have tested negative for both the Ebola and Marburg viruses.

In a public health advisory issued on September 19th, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, stated that samples from the patients are now being tested for other diseases, including Lassa Fever and Dengue Fever.

One of the cases involved a traveler who returned from Kigali and, upon feeling ill, immediately reported to a hospital in Abuja.

This prompt action by the patient, combined with the vigilance of the clinicians at Nisa Premier Hospital, led to the immediate activation of the public-health response system, successfully minimizing potential risks to the public.

Dr. Idris commended the hospital staff for their swift reporting and praised the coordinated efforts of various agencies, including the FCT Epidemiology Team, Port Health Services, and the National Reference Laboratory.

He explained that Nigeria had already initiated a Dynamic Risk Assessment and activated nationwide anticipatory measures following recent Ebola reports abroad.

These measures include heightened surveillance at all points of entry, alerting isolation facilities, and pre-positioning emergency medical supplies.

The NCDC boss called on state governments to ensure their isolation centers are functional and to support rapid response teams.

He also urged all healthcare workers, especially in private practice, to maintain a high level of suspicion and adhere strictly to infection-prevention protocols.

The public advisory reminded Nigerians to practice good hand hygiene, avoid contact with symptomatic individuals, minimize animal-to-human risks, and seek early medical help if symptoms develop after travel.

Dr. Idris concluded that the event demonstrates how the vigilance of one individual and the cooperation of stakeholders can protect millions, reaffirming the NCDC’s commitment to safeguarding the health of all Nigerians.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts