FG Confirms Imported Ebola Case in Abuja
…. Begins Contact Tracing for 44 People
The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 44 close contacts identified as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection on the same day.
Pate said the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, is currently isolated and receiving medical care.
Describing the infection as a “contained case,” the minister assured Nigerians that the government was working with relevant authorities and partners to prevent further spread of the virus.
According to him, the woman had received treatment at a private hospital in the FCT for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.
He said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far, while surveillance teams were working to identify and monitor other people who might have been exposed to the virus.
Those being traced include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and individuals who may have had contact with the patient during her travels.
Pate added that surveillance had been strengthened, while the private hospital where the woman was treated was receiving immediate support to improve infection prevention and control measures.
The minister urged public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain vigilant, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, maintain strict infection prevention protocols and immediately report any suspected infection to the appropriate authorities.
He explained that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, as well as through contact with contaminated materials.
Pate advised Nigerians to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of suspected cases and remain alert to symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure.
He stressed that anyone who might have been exposed should report to public health authorities immediately, even if they had no symptoms.
The minister further advised anyone developing symptoms to avoid close contact with others and contact public health officials before visiting a healthcare facility to reduce the risk of transmission.
He also appealed to passengers who might have had contact with the patient, including relevant airline passengers identified through contact tracing, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health instructions.
Pate cautioned against spreading rumours, misinformation or stigmatising affected individuals, urging Nigerians to rely on verified updates from official health authorities.
He recalled that Nigeria successfully contained the Ebola outbreak in 2014, expressing confidence that the country had the experience and public health infrastructure required to respond effectively to the latest case.
However, he emphasised that public cooperation, early detection and prompt reporting would be crucial to preventing further transmission.
The minister said the Federal Government, through the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), would continue to provide updates on the situation.
He urged Nigerians seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
