Breaking: FG Confirms Ebola Case In Abuja, Identifies 44 Contacts

The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with contact tracing underway 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 statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.

The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are working with relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent its spread.

The government said 44 close contacts had been identified, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts. Public health teams have commenced tracing these individuals and are working to identify and monitor other people who may have been exposed.

Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient was initially treated is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

The Federal Government has urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain vigilant and promptly identify and isolate suspected cases. Healthcare workers have also been directed to observe strict infection prevention protocols and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.

Pate appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and adhere to preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

He listed possible symptoms of the disease to include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed to the virus.

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.

He also urged 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 Ebola transmission in the region. The NCDC had, in an advisory issued on October 6, raised concerns about the risk of importing the infection following a reported case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces. Infected individuals do not transmit the virus before symptoms appear, while the incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.

Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced the virus into the country. The response involved case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions.

Reassuring Nigerians, Pate said the country had the experience and public health structures needed to respond to the confirmed case. However, he stressed that public cooperation would be essential to preventing further transmission.

The Federal Government said investigations were ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, in collaboration with the NCDC, would continue to provide updates.

Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case can contact the NCDC toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.