Stomach infection, cancer risk: Experts seek African solutions to H. pylori

…As AHMSG leads calls for stronger research, diagnosis & Africa-specific treatment strategies

 

 

By Admin

 

 

With Helicobacter pylori infection affecting more than half of the world's population and prevalence rates in parts of Africa exceeding 80 percent, medical experts are intensifying calls for stronger African-led research, improved diagnosis and more effective treatment strategies to tackle the growing public health challenge.

 

The bacterium, which colonises the stomach and can persist for years without obvious symptoms, is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Yet, despite its widespread presence across the continent, gaps in surveillance, limited access to diagnostic facilities and growing antibiotic resistance continue to complicate efforts to control the infection.

 

Africa records some of the world's highest H. pylori prevalence rates, often exceeding 80 percent in some populations, compared with 25 to 50 per cent in high-income countries.

 

Although most infected people may not develop symptoms, the infection can lead to significant complications. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of infected individuals develop peptic ulcer disease, gastritis or duodenitis, while a smaller proportion develop gastric adenocarcinoma or other serious complications.

 

Of particular concern is antimicrobial resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of commonly prescribed treatment regimens. Findings raise concerns about the continued reliance on empirical antibiotic prescriptions without adequate knowledge of local resistance patterns, potentially contributing to treatment failure and repeated exposure to antibiotics.

 

Against this background, African and international experts are set to converge on Lusaka, Zambia, from November 27 to 28, 2026, for the 2nd African Helicobacter pylori and Microbiota Scientific Conference, organised by the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (AHMSG).

 

The conference is expected to provide a platform for examining the changing landscape of H. pylori infection, its implications for gastrointestinal health in Africa and the urgent need for research and treatment approaches that reflect the continent's peculiar health challenges.

 

At the forthcoming conference, Emeritus Professor Colm O'Morain of Trinity College Dublin and Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland, will deliver the keynote address on "The Next 40 Years of H. pylori: Opportunities and Challenges."

 

His presentation is expected to examine emerging scientific developments, unresolved questions and opportunities for improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the infection.

 

Another prominent speaker, Professor Yoshio Yamaoka, an internationally recognised physician, microbiologist and researcher specialising in H. pylori and gastrointestinal cancer-associated pathogens, will address "Collaborative Research in Africa: Current Progress and Future Perspectives."

 

His presentation is expected to draw attention to the importance of stronger research partnerships, scientific capacity development and greater African participation in global investigations into H. pylori and related diseases.

 

Goodwill messages from Professor Peter Malfertheiner, a Richen Symposium, oral scientific presentations and panel discussions will also feature at the two-day conference, holding at the Grand Palace Hotel, Lusaka, amidst awards and prizes for outstanding oral presentations, the formal handover of AHMSG's presidency and a meeting of the group's board members.

 

In a statement announcing the conference, AHMSG President, Professor Mashiko Setshedi, said the gathering would provide an important opportunity to advance scientific exchange and strengthen collaboration among African and international researchers.

 

AHMSG has positioned itself as a continental platform for advancing research, strengthening professional collaboration and developing Africa-specific approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and management of H. pylori infection.

The Group was established to address the peculiar challenges of H. pylori infections and gastric health in Africa, with a focus on developing research-driven approaches and clinical guidelines suited to the continent.

The initiative took shape in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a network of African medical scholars began meeting virtually to address concerns that existing international clinical guidelines for managing H. pylori infections did not adequately reflect Africa’s socioeconomic and healthcare realities.

The challenges include inadequate local research funding, poor access to healthcare services and underdeveloped diagnostic infrastructure, which often limit the effective diagnosis and treatment of the infection.

Following the consultations, AHMSG was formally established and inaugurated in June 2022, in Lagos, by the then Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako.

The initiative was spearheaded by Professor Stella I. Smith, then Director of Research at NIMR and a renowned microbiologist, who became the group's founding president.

Conceived as a continental scientific collaboration, AHMSG brought together leading medical researchers, scholars and board members from several African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Tanzania.

Its formation was aimed at strengthening research collaboration, knowledge sharing and scientific responses to H. pylori infections and related gastrointestinal health challenges across the continent. The group also seeks to promote the development of Africa-specific guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the infection, with the ultimate goal of reducing associated conditions such as stomach ulcers and gastric cancer

23 states commit funds to fight neglected tropical diseases as Nigeria targets $7m boost

By Admin

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with 23 states now providing dedicated budget lines for the diseases, up from 19 in 2025, as the country seeks to unlock an additional $7 million in international funding through improved domestic financing in 2027.

The development comes amid growing pressure on federal and state governments to translate political commitments into actual budgetary allocations and timely releases to accelerate the fight against diseases that continue to cause disability, disfigurement and deaths, particularly in underserved communities.

At the High-Level Meeting on NTDs held in Abuja in late October, Kano State committed an additional N100 million towards tackling snakebite envenoming, while Kaduna State indicated plans to increase its 2027 budgetary commitment to NTDs by 50 per cent.

The commitments signal growing state-level recognition of the need to take greater financial responsibility for controlling and eliminating the diseases, which account for a significant proportion of Nigeria's disease burden.

Nigeria accounts for about 25 per cent of Africa's total NTD burden, making it one of the countries most affected by the 21 diseases classified under the neglected tropical diseases group by the World Health Organisation.

The meeting, convened by Uniting to Combat NTDs in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and The Global Fund, brought together Commissioners of Health, lawmakers, programme managers and development partners to mobilise political and financial support ahead of the 2027 budget cycle.

A major concern raised at the meeting was the poor release of approved funds, which continues to undermine implementation of NTD control and elimination programmes.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Hon. Amos Magaji, acknowledged the funding challenge, pledging to push for stronger prioritisation of NTD interventions in the health budget from 2027.

He said: “For some time now, budget releases have been very poor. But efforts have been made not only to have budgets released for NTDs but to ensure that diseases like these are prioritised in health budgets.”

Magaji also committed to securing a significant portion of basic healthcare provision funds for NTD interventions going forward.

Beyond increased domestic allocations, Nigeria is looking to leverage international financing opportunities, with timely releases of state-level counterpart funds potentially unlocking an additional $7 million from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund for 2027.

The funding opportunity is expected to expand the reach of interventions and strengthen the country's efforts towards meeting the WHO's 2030 NTD elimination targets.

National Coordinator for NTDs at the Federal Ministry of Health, Adebayo Peters, said Nigeria had recorded considerable progress in reducing the number of people affected by the diseases, attributing the gains to government commitment and support from implementing partners.

“We have been able to drastically reduce the number of people affected by these diseases. The efforts to eliminate NTDs are successful because of the contributions we are getting both from the government and our implementing partners,” he said.

According to the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, ESPEN, Nigeria has freed 89.7 million people from the need for treatment for lymphatic filariasis, one of the country's major NTDs.

The country also mobilised about N200 million in its 2025 national health budget to tackle snakebite envenoming, a neglected public health emergency that continues to threaten lives, particularly among rural and farming communities.

Head of Resource Mobilisation at Uniting to Combat NTDs, Gerald Ogoko, said the increase in states with dedicated NTD budget lines reflected growing momentum in domestic financing.

He disclosed that 19 states established dedicated budget lines totalling more than $1 million in 2025, compared with 23 states reporting such allocations in 2026.

Ogoko urged state governments and legislators to sustain the momentum by expanding the number of participating states and ensuring NTD interventions receive priority in the 2027 budget process.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of aligning federal and state spending priorities under a common financing and monitoring framework to ensure that approved funds translate into actual interventions.

With Nigeria carrying a quarter of Africa's NTD burden, stakeholders say sustained domestic financing, timely budget releases and stronger accountability will be critical to ending the cycle of neglect surrounding the diseases.

For millions of people in vulnerable communities, the challenge is no longer simply getting governments to make funding promises, but ensuring that the money is released and reaches those who need treatment and preventive services.

Editorial note: I have retained the figures and commitments in the supplied material. The distinction between 23 states having dedicated budget lines and actual release of the funds is important. Also, the $7 million should be presented as potential funding conditional on timely domestic fund releases, not as money already secured.

Ooni urges FG to enforce recycling laws as plastic waste chokes environment

By Precious Dipe 

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has challenged the Federal Government to move beyond recycling policies on paper and enforce environmental regulations to tackle Nigeria's growing plastic waste crisis.

The monarch warned that indiscriminate disposal of plastic bottles and other waste materials was threatening the environment, blocking drainage channels and undermining efforts to keep communities clean.

He spoke at the official opening of Polysmart Packaging Ltd.'s expanded recycling facility in Ogun State, where he expressed concern over the persistent habit of dumping refuse on roads, in drains and other public spaces.

Oba Ogunwusi, who commended the company for investing in waste recycling and environmental protection, questioned why keeping public spaces clean remained difficult in Nigeria, unlike countries where environmental laws are strictly enforced.

He noted that plastic waste posed a particular challenge because of its slow decomposition rate, warning that improper disposal would continue to worsen environmental pollution and sanitation problems.

The monarch's call comes as Nigeria struggles with the growing volume of plastic waste generated daily, much of which ends up in landfills, drainage systems, waterways and the ocean.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Polysmart Packaging Ltd., Wasiu Balogun, said the company's newly expanded $60 million facility would significantly increase the country's capacity to recycle plastic waste.

Balogun said the company began operations in 2013 with an initial capital of N2 million but had since expanded to meet growing demand for plastic waste recycling.

He said the company would work with relevant regulatory agencies to improve plastic waste management and support manufacturers in complying with environmental regulations.

As part of efforts to strengthen collection, Balogun disclosed plans to establish a network of collection agents across Nigeria's 774 local government areas, creating a wider system for recovering discarded plastic materials.

According to him, the facility would process 100,000 tonnes of mixed plastics annually at full capacity, equivalent to approximately 6.5 billion PET bottles or 15 million bottles daily.

He said the investment would help divert millions of discarded bottles from landfills, prevent open burning and reduce the volume of plastic waste washed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Polysmart Packaging Ltd., Niyi Yusuf, described the facility as a major investment in Nigeria's industrial and environmental future, saying it demonstrated confidence in the country's manufacturing sector.

Yusuf described the plant as Africa's largest food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) facility, adding that its operations could position Nigeria as a major recycling hub in West Africa.

He said improving Nigeria's recycling system would require more than private sector investment, stressing the need to strengthen extended producer responsibility policies and develop the infrastructure required to collect, sort and process waste.

Citing Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands as examples, Yusuf said Nigeria could draw lessons from countries that have developed more effective recycling systems through stronger producer responsibility frameworks and sustained investment in waste management infrastructure.

Parenting: Lagos DSVA rallies fathers to protect the Girl Child

By Admin

In a strong push to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and strengthen child protection efforts, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has charged fathers to take a more active role in the lives of their daughters, warning that absence, silence and emotional neglect can leave children vulnerable to abuse.

The call was made during a fatherhood sensitisation programme organised by the Agency's Community Engagement Department, in partnership with the Daddy's Girl Project, at Ikoyi Senior Grammar School, Lagos, where 70 fathers gathered to learn how responsible parenting can serve as a powerful tool against violence and abuse.

Held under the theme, "Promoting Responsible, Present and Protective Fathers," the engagement placed the spotlight on a critical but often overlooked reality: fathers are not only providers, but also protectors, mentors and the first line of defence against abuse.

Representing the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Head of Community Engagement, Mr. Damilare Adewusi, challenged participants to rethink the traditional view of fatherhood and embrace a more intentional role in raising daughters.

"The presence of a father in a child's life can significantly influence her confidence, sense of security and overall well-being," he said on behalf of the Executive Secretary.

"As fathers, your role extends beyond providing for your families. You are protectors, mentors and role models whose actions and words help shape the future of your children. By being present, intentional and supportive, fathers can play a critical role in preventing abuse and raising confident, resilient young girls."

The event featured thought-provoking sessions led by child protection advocates and parenting experts who examined the far-reaching impact fathers have on their daughters' lives.

Facilitator Ms. Ramat Balogun-Lamidi stressed that a father's influence can shape a girl's self-worth, her understanding of healthy relationships and her willingness to speak up when faced with abuse.

Adding to the conversation, renowned Parenting Coach, author and host of the Manhood Radio Show, Mr. Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, urged fathers to move beyond the mindset that financial provision alone defines good parenting.

According to him, daughters thrive when fathers provide emotional support, listen without judgment, build trust and maintain open channels of communication.

Participants engaged in frank conversations on toxic masculinity, harmful social norms and the consequences of emotional absenteeism. Through interactive exercises and personal reflections, many fathers shared experiences and explored practical ways to become more involved in their daughters' daily lives.

The discussions also highlighted the need for fathers to challenge harmful gender stereotypes, model healthy behaviour and create safe spaces where girls feel valued, respected and empowered to speak without fear.

The atmosphere at the close of the programme was one of reflection and renewed commitment, as participants collectively pledged to become more present, protective and purposeful fathers.

The initiative forms part of DSVA's broader strategy to prevent violence before it occurs by strengthening families, promoting healthy relationships and empowering parents to play an active role in safeguarding children.

E-signed,

Onadipe Opebere
Head, Public Affairs Unit
Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA)
27 October 2026.

Nigeria, Africa risk missing genomic medicine revolution over poor research funding – Experts

 Invest in home-grown vaccines, affordable genetic treatments -- Butali

Only 2% of genetic studies focus on Africans -- Paemka

Establish genomic research centres for Academy -- Ashiru

L-R: Professor Mayowa Owolabi, Academy Secretary, Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Oladapo,  Ashiru, Foundation President, Academy of Medical Sciences; Emeritus Professor Frank Osato Giwa-Osagie, Outgoing President,  Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Sunday Chinenye, Guest Speaker, Augustine Ohwovoriole Annual Memorial Lecture; Olor'ogun Dr Sonny Kuku, BoT Chairman, Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Joseph Ahaneku,, Incoming President, Academy of Medical Sciences, at the Academy's Annual Scientific Conference/Annual Augustine Ohwovoriole Annual Memorial Lecture held in Lagos on Friday, 30th of October, 2026.

By Admin

Nigeria and other African countries risk being left behind in the emerging revolution in genomic medicine unless governments urgently invest in biomedical research, strengthen local research infrastructure and empower scientists to develop solutions to diseases affecting their populations.

Researchers who raised concerns over this development said the continent's limited investment in genetic and genomic research was restricting its ability to understand disease patterns, develop affordable treatments and benefit from advances in precision medicine.

Speaking at the Academy of Medical Sciences' 2026 Annual Scientific Conference, themed “The Genetics and Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrating Science into Clinical Care”, the experts warned that Africa's continued dependence on scientific discoveries made largely outside the continent could perpetuate inequalities in healthcare.

They said this could leave millions of Africans unable to access sophisticated treatments developed without sufficient consideration for their genetic diversity, disease burden and economic circumstances.

Invest in home-grown vaccines, affordable genetic treatments – Butali

Nigerian geneticist, Professor Azeez Butali, said sustained government investment in biomedical research could deliver enormous public health and economic benefits.

Butali, a Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, United States, warned that Nigeria's continued dependence on conventional outbreak containment measures, without corresponding investment in vaccine research and development, could leave the country exposed to future infectious disease emergencies.

He made particular reference to the renewed Ebola threat, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond surveillance and border screening to invest in developing vaccines and treatments against emerging infectious diseases.

"We need to move beyond that. We must invest in biomedical research, develop vaccines where possible and prepare our populations to respond to future outbreaks. Ebola will not be the last infectious disease threat, just as COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic. Another pandemic will emerge at some point," he said.

Calling for greater public participation in research, Butali said Nigerians must recognise their role in identifying research priorities and participating in studies that could produce solutions to pressing health challenges.

"My message to Nigerians is very simple: let us become part of the research process. To my colleagues, I believe we must keep our research tools ready and continue doing the work required to discover, translate scientific findings and improve the lives of our people.

"We should not wait for government funding before pursuing knowledge and scientific discoveries. Funding processes can take time, so we must continue to seek knowledge, build collaborations with colleagues around the world and move our research forward. Ultimately, our people will be the beneficiaries," he said.

He challenged the government to provide sustained funding for biomedical research, stressing that scientific discoveries could lead to molecules that eventually become vaccines and medicines capable of preventing diseases or reducing their impact.

Only 2% of genetic studies focus on Africans – Paemka

Butali's call for greater investment in genomic research resonated with concerns raised by Professor Lily Paemka, Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Genomics at the University of Ghana and Deputy Director of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre.

Paemka warned that African populations remained grossly underrepresented in global genetic studies, limiting scientists' ability to identify disease-associated genes and develop interventions suited to the continent.

She argued that including African genomes in genetic studies should go beyond meeting diversity and inclusion targets, stressing that Africa's exceptional genetic diversity offered scientists an important opportunity to discover previously unidentified disease-associated genetic variations.

"The take-home message is that we need to include African genomes in genetic studies. The other take-home message is that when we do that, we find new variants that are predisposing Africans to genetic diseases, which is not shocking because, once again, we are the most genetically diverse population," she said.

According to her, identifying these genetic variations could improve understanding of why certain diseases occur more frequently or present more aggressively in African populations.

She maintained that a better understanding of genetic risks, combined with public awareness and participation in research, would position African populations to benefit from emerging advances in genomic and precision medicine.

Establish genomic research centres in Nigeria – Ashiru

For his part, the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Oladapo Ashiru, called on the Federal Government to establish dedicated genomic research centres, arguing that Nigeria had trained specialists capable of undertaking advanced genomic investigations but continued to depend heavily on collaborations with foreign institutions.

He said genomic research had transformed the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of several diseases, making it possible to identify genetic abnormalities and, in some cases, prevent their transmission to future generations.

Using sickle cell disease as an example, Ashiru explained how preimplantation genetic testing could help couples at risk of having children with the condition select embryos without the disease for transfer during IVF.

"We can have somebody who is a sickle cell carrier. We can make that woman produce eggs, fertilise with the donor sperm, and can now separate and identify the genetic compositions of those embryos and identify those embryos that are SS or AS or normal. We can transfer the normal embryo into the woman so she can now have a normal baby," he said.

Ashiru said the potential economic returns from genomic research provided another compelling reason for government investment, citing estimates that every dollar invested could generate about $140 in returns through improved health outcomes and other benefits.

Beyond genomic medicine, the Academy president stressed the need to translate scientific knowledge into public health benefits, warning that many Nigerians remained unaware of the influence of genetics, diet, lifestyle and environmental exposures on their health.

He also challenged the government to make greater use of expertise available within Nigeria's scientific and medical community, arguing that the country had specialists whose knowledge was recognised internationally.

According to him, stronger collaboration between government and the Academy of Medical Sciences could help shape evidence-based health and science policies, strengthen research capacity and improve healthcare delivery.

Climate change may unleash deadly fungi on humans, scientists warn

Researchers identify drug-resistant Candida auris as warning sign of emerging fungal threats as global warming drives heat adaptation

By Admin

Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures could increase the risk of deadly fungal infections in humans by enabling more fungi to develop the ability to survive at body temperature, weakening one of humanity's natural defences against infection.

The warning comes amid growing concern over the emergence and spread of Candida auris, a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungus that can thrive at human body temperature and has demonstrated the ability to survive temperatures as high as 47°C.

The findings, contained in a 2026 research paper by Carla Schuh and Chaitanya Gokhale, titled Candidozyma auris (Candida auris) as a harbinger of novel fungal pathogens, raise concerns that environmental warming could favour fungi capable of overcoming the temperature barrier that has historically limited their ability to infect humans.

The researchers argue that climate change may be creating conditions in which previously harmless environmental fungi could evolve greater heat tolerance and become potential human pathogens.

The concern is particularly significant because the human body, with an average temperature of approximately 37°C, provides a hostile environment for most fungal species.

Although millions of fungi exist in nature, only a relatively small proportion can tolerate the temperature inside the human body and cause disease.

However, scientists fear that rising environmental temperatures could gradually change this biological equation, allowing more fungal species to adapt to conditions previously too hot for them to survive.

Candida auris, first identified in 2009, illustrates the danger. The fungus has emerged as a serious healthcare-associated pathogen, causing severe infections, particularly among hospitalised patients and people with weakened immune systems.

Its ability to survive on surfaces, spread in healthcare facilities and resist multiple antifungal drugs makes it especially difficult to control.

The researchers' warning also comes against the backdrop of the enormous global burden of fungal diseases, which affect millions of people annually. An estimated 6.5 million people worldwide develop serious fungal infections each year.

Beyond environmental warming, the researchers point to another development that deserves attention: changes in human body temperature.

A Stanford University study examining historical records found that average body temperature among American men had declined by approximately 0.59°C since the 19th century, equivalent to about 0.03°C per decade.

The finding has prompted questions about whether changes in human physiology, alongside rising environmental temperatures, could further alter the relationship between humans and fungal pathogens.

However, the research does not establish that declining human body temperature is directly responsible for increasing fungal infections, nor does it prove that climate change caused the emergence of Candida auris.

The broader concern is that environmental conditions may increasingly favour fungi capable of surviving inside the human body.

Scientists are consequently calling for stronger fungal disease surveillance, improved laboratory detection, better infection prevention and control, and accelerated development of new antifungal medicines.

The warning carries particular weight for healthcare systems already battling antimicrobial resistance, as treatment options for serious fungal infections remain limited.

Although the prospect of a fungus-driven pandemic resembling the fictional apocalypse in the television series The Last of Us remains far-fetched, researchers say the real threat should not be dismissed.

Unlike the fictional fungus that controls human behaviour, Candida auris causes real and potentially fatal infections, with resistance to available treatments complicating patient management.

For scientists, the emerging challenge is to understand how climate change could reshape fungal evolution before more environmental species acquire the ability to infect humans.

Ebola: Two suspected cases test negative in Adamawa

By Precious Dipe 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has ruled out Ebola Disease in two suspected cases identified in Yola, Adamawa State, following two rounds of laboratory testing that returned negative results.

The development means the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) index case remains the only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case reported in Nigeria, according to the NCDC.

Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, saying the suspected cases were detected after the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received an alert in the early hours of Friday, October 30.

The two individuals had presented with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, prompting their isolation and the activation of appropriate public health measures.

According to Idris, samples collected from the individuals were subjected to laboratory testing, with both rounds returning negative results for Ebola virus.

He commended the Adamawa State Commissioner for Health and his team for their prompt response, assuring that the NCDC would continue to provide technical support to strengthen the state's response operations.

"Currently, there is no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State. The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed case reported in Nigeria to date," he said.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information or speculation, advising the public to rely on official government and public health communication channels for updates.

Idris, however, warned that Ebola remains a serious infectious disease requiring early detection, prompt clinical management and strict infection prevention and control measures.

He advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly after possible exposure, to seek immediate medical attention and disclose relevant travel or contact history to healthcare workers.

He also cautioned against self-medication, urging members of the public to follow professional medical advice.

The NCDC said it would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and other relevant stakeholders, promising further updates as verified information becomes available.