Adamawa Ebola alert: both suspected cases test negative, and what to do if you have symptoms

Two people in Yola, Adamawa State, who were isolated with symptoms that looked like Ebola have tested negative after two rounds of laboratory tests, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says. Nigeria still has only one confirmed Ebola case, the patient in Abuja reported in October.

The Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received a report in the early hours of Friday 30 October about two people in Yola with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris said in a statement. The two were isolated, public health measures were started and samples were sent for testing. The NCDC issued an alert on Saturday 31 October, and the same day said the samples had come back negative after two rounds of testing, TheCable and Channels reported.

'Currently, there is no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State,' Idris said. 'The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed case reported in Nigeria to date.' He praised the Adamawa health commissioner and his team for acting quickly and said the NCDC would keep supporting the state, Daily Trust reported.

That earlier case, a woman who returned to Abuja from Uganda and was confirmed with the Bundibugyo type of Ebola on 20 October, was flown to Switzerland for treatment on 26 October. Health officials are still monitoring people who had contact with her. The World Health Organization has said Nigeria must go 42 days without a new case before it can be declared Ebola-free.

The NCDC urged the public to stay calm and not to share unverified information or speculation, and to rely on official government and public health channels for updates. Online, the Adamawa alert drew a wave of worried posts before the negative results were announced.

Pidgin: The two people wey dem suspect say get Ebola for Yola, Adamawa, don test negative two times. Na only the one case wey dem confirm for Abuja dey Nigeria till now. If you get fever, weakness, vomiting or bleeding wey no get explanation, go hospital quick-quick, no do self-medication.

How this affects you: There is no confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa, so there is no need to panic or avoid people from the state. Ebola symptoms include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding. If you or someone near you has these, especially after travel or contact with a sick person, go to a health facility straight away, tell the health workers about your travel and contacts, and do not treat yourself at home. You can also call the NCDC toll-free line, 6232. Do not forward unconfirmed 'new case' messages.