The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has issued a public health advisory following the detection of two suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in Abuja.
According to the agency, both cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, but further laboratory investigations are underway for other possible causes such as Lassa fever and dengue.
The first reported case involved a 32-year-old male estate developer who presented to Nisa Premier Hospital on September 18, 2025, with a 10-day history of fever that had failed to respond to treatment. He also exhibited epistaxis (nosebleeds), haematemesis (vomiting blood), and melaena (bloody stool).
Medical history revealed multiple hospital visits in Rwanda over the past three weeks, where he was advised to test for Lassa fever. He returned to Nigeria earlier the same day via RwandAir and immediately sought medical attention.
A rapid public health response was activated. The Area Council Rapid Response Team was deployed for case investigation, and samples were transported to designated reference laboratories.
The hospital was instructed to enforce strict infection prevention and control measures while awaiting confirmatory results.
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The NCDC commended the swift action taken by private hospitals, the FCT epidemiology team, and other partners in flagging the suspected case. It noted that early reporting by patients and vigilance from clinicians remain critical in containing potential outbreaks.
Ongoing measures include enhanced surveillance at points of entry, readiness of isolation facilities, updated risk assessments, and nationwide preparedness exercises.
The advisory also emphasized the need for healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, particularly when attending to patients with recent travel histories and unexplained bleeding disorders.
Nigeria has experienced repeated outbreaks of Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted by rodents.
In recent years, the country has also scaled up preparedness against Ebola and Marburg viruses following regional outbreaks in West and Central Africa.
The symptoms of these diseases—persistent fever, bleeding, vomiting, and multi-organ involvement—require urgent testing and isolation due to their high fatality rates and potential for community spread.
The NCDC urged the public to remain calm but vigilant. It encouraged anyone experiencing persistent fever or unusual bleeding symptoms to seek immediate medical attention and disclose recent travel history.
For enquiries or reports, the public can call the NCDC’s toll-free hotline (6232), visit www.ncdc.gov.ng, or follow @NCDCgov on social media.
“Timely reporting and strict adherence to safety guidelines will ensure Nigeria remains prepared and protected,” the agency stated.
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