The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after a woman who arrived in Nigeria from Uganda tested positive for the infection, prompting an emergency public health response involving contact tracing of 44 people.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the case.
According to the minister, the woman arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and was subsequently admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the infection was confirmed.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health authorities have commenced efforts to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
The government said 44 close contacts had been identified, with investigations continuing to establish whether other people, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and fellow passengers, might have come into contact with the infected woman.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating the response in collaboration with other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
As part of the containment measures, surveillance has been intensified, while the private hospital where the patient was treated is receiving immediate support to strengthen its infection prevention and control procedures.
The government has also directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, urging healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola infections.
Medical personnel have been instructed to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols, and immediately report suspected infections to the relevant public health authorities.
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, stressing that public cooperation would be critical to preventing further transmission.
He advised citizens to observe basic preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
The minister also outlined symptoms that members of the public should watch for, including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
Anyone who develops such symptoms after a possible exposure has been advised to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government further appealed to individuals contacted by public health teams during the tracing exercise, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with official instructions.
The confirmation comes amid concerns over an evolving regional Ebola outbreak.
Nigeria’s disease control agency had, in an advisory issued on October 6, raised concerns about the risk of importing the infection following a confirmed case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The latest case has heightened the need for vigilance at the country’s points of entry and across healthcare facilities as authorities work to prevent further spread.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces.
The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, while infected individuals do not transmit the virus before developing symptoms.
Nigeria previously recorded an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced the disease into the country.
The outbreak was contained through rapid identification and isolation of cases, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions.
Reassuring Nigerians, Pate said the country had the experience and public health systems needed to respond to the current case.
He, however, emphasised that preventing further transmission would require sustained vigilance, adherence to public health guidance and cooperation from members of the public.
The Federal Government said investigations were ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, working alongside the NCDC, would continue to provide updates as the situation developed.
Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case have been advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
