Nigeria’s health authorities have confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), triggering an immediate contact-tracing exercise.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
The confirmation followed laboratory tests conducted on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, where Ebola outbreaks have occurred in recent years.
She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
Health officials say 44 close contacts have so far been identified and are being monitored for signs of the disease.
Authorities Scale Up Surveillance And Monitoring
Pate said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies are working together to contain the infection.
He said contact tracing had begun, with public health teams working to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed.
Those being tracked include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and others who may have had contact with the patient during her travels.
The hospital where the patient was treated is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The NCDC is Nigeria’s lead agency for detecting and responding to disease outbreaks across the country.
Minister Appeals For Calm And Prompt Reporting
Pate called on people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to cooperate and provide accurate information.
He also called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to stay alert and report suspected cases promptly to public health authorities.
“Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, identify and isolate suspected cases without delay,” the statement said, adding that strict infection prevention measures must be observed.
The government asked Nigerians to remain calm, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Anyone who suspects exposure should contact public health authorities immediately, even without symptoms. Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others.
Pate warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising people who may have been exposed, asking Nigerians to rely only on verified information from official health sources.
He said the government and its partners are working to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public, and that investigations are ongoing.
NCDC Explains How Ebola Spreads, Provides Hotline
In a separate statement on its 𝕏 handle on Wednesday, the NCDC also called on Nigerians to stay calm and rely on verified information.
The agency said the Federal Government, through the NCDC and other health authorities, is strengthening surveillance and response efforts nationwide.
“Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died, as well as contact with contaminated materials,” the NCDC explained.
It called on members of the public to report suspected cases without delay, stressing that early reporting is critical to saving lives.
The NCDC’s toll-free call centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide information and receive reports of suspected cases. Members of the public can call 6232 for assistance.
