The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and identified 44 close contacts as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
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 infection.
According to the minister, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, the government said.
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 alongside other relevant authorities.
FG Begins Contact Tracing for 44 People
Public health teams have begun tracing the 44 identified contacts and are working to identify other people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Those being considered include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have come into contact with the woman during her journey.
The government said surveillance had been intensified, while the private hospital where the patient was treated was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
Healthcare facilities nationwide have also been directed to remain on high alert, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention protocols and report suspected infections to public health authorities.
The government urged people contacted by health officials, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health guidance.
FG Advises Nigerians on Ebola Symptoms
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm while observing recommended preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly in people who may have been exposed to the infection.
The minister advised anyone who develops symptoms to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people and through contaminated objects or surfaces.
People infected with the virus do not transmit it before symptoms develop. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
Nigeria Activates Ebola Response Measures
The latest confirmation comes amid a regional Ebola outbreak. According to the report, the NCDC had issued an advisory on October 6 warning of the risk of importing the infection following a confirmed case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced the virus into the country. The response involved rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions.
Pate said Nigeria had the experience and public health systems needed to respond to the current case, while emphasising that public cooperation would be essential to preventing further transmission.
The government said investigations were ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC would continue to provide updates.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.
