The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, launching an urgent response. Officials have commenced rigorous contact tracing, with forty-four close contacts identified 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.
Managing the Case of Ebola disease
“A woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed,” the statement noted.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care. Health teams moved swiftly to secure the facility and protect the public.
Strengthening Contact Tracing and Public Safety
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are working together. They aim to contain the infection and stop any further spread.
The government said public health teams had begun tracing the 44 identified contacts. They are working to monitor others who might have been exposed. This group includes healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, and travel contacts.
Enhanced Health Surveillance and Facility Support
Health surveillance has been intensified across the nation. The hospital where the patient was treated is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The government has urged public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain on high alert. It directed healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion. Staff must promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict protocols, and report infections to public health authorities.
Symptoms and Public Advisory
The minister advised Nigerians to remain calm while observing preventive measures. These steps include regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having the virus.
He said symptoms to watch for include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting, and diarrhoea. These signs are critical, particularly among people who may have been exposed.
“Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the statement advised.
The government also urged people contacted by public health teams to cooperate fully. This call includes potentially exposed airline passengers, who must provide required information and comply with official guidance.
Regional Context and Historical Response
The confirmation comes amid an evolving regional outbreak. Nigeria’s disease control agency had, in an October 6 advisory, raised concerns about import risks. Those worries followed a confirmed case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The World Health Organisation states that the virus spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids. Transmission can also happen via contaminated objects and surfaces. Infected people do not spread the virus before symptoms develop. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
Nigeria previously contained an outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced it. That swift response involved rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and coordinated public health interventions.
Reassuring citizens, Pate said the country had the experience required to respond. He stressed that stopping further transmission would require full public cooperation.
The Federal Government said investigations remain ongoing. The Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, alongside the NCDC, will continue to provide regular updates.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.
