The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has disclosed that the two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja, tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, came back negative.

The latest result puts to rest a recent scare of possible Ebola and Marburg infiltration of the country through African travellers.

A public health advisory signed by the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, revealed that the agency is further testing additional samples for other viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa Fever and Dengue fever.

He noted that recently, a traveller returning to Nigeria from Kigali, presented himself to a hospital in Abuja for testing, when he felt unwell.

He noted that the individual’s decision to report early, combined with the vigilance of the attending clinician and hospital team, ensured that the public health system was promptly activated and that the risk to the public was minimized.

Dr Idris said, currently the NCDC is collating and analysing all the relevant data and information to improve its response.

‘‘The NCDC has already conducted a Dynamic Risk Assessment following recent reports of Ebola viral disease in other countries, and anticipatory measures are being implemented nationwide. We have activated multidisciplinary collaboration with federal and state health authorities, strengthening surveillance at points of entry and placed isolation/treatment facilities on alert, and prepositioning critical infection-prevention and related case management supplies.

‘‘The NCDC is also working with states and partners to strengthen readiness across all 36 states and the FCT. This includes upgrading isolation facilities and reinforcing IPC training for healthcare workers.

Dr Idris advised state governments and ministries of health to continue to support disease-surveillance officers, ensure isolation centres are functional, and provide necessary resources for rapid response.

‘‘Healthcare workers in both public and private facilities must maintain a high index of suspicion, always apply strict infection-prevention measures, and report unusual cases immediately through the established IDSR channels,’’ he advised.

Ebola, Marburg: Suspected viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja negative