Ebola Case Confirmed in Nigeria as Health Authorities Track 44 Contacts
The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with health authorities identifying 44 contacts for monitoring as efforts to prevent further transmission continue.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection in a woman who recently returned from Uganda.
According to Pate, the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private health facility on October 11 before her infection was confirmed.
The minister disclosed that the patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care, adding that her condition was stable.
He explained that the government had activated coordinated emergency response measures involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), FCT Health Secretariat, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pate said the 44 contacts identified so far included healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and individuals who might have encountered the woman during her journey.
He added that contact tracing was continuing to identify other people who might have been exposed to the virus.
Health authorities are also supporting the private hospital where the woman initially received treatment to strengthen its infection prevention and control measures and minimise the risk of further transmission.
The minister assured Nigerians that the patient’s condition remained stable and that officials were working to identify and monitor everyone who might have had contact with her.
He urged public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain vigilant, promptly report suspected Ebola cases and comply with established infection prevention and control guidelines.
Pate stressed that early detection, immediate isolation and effective contact tracing were essential to containing the infection and preventing additional cases.
He said the government had activated its incident management system to coordinate surveillance activities and other emergency response measures.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, noting that the country had previously managed an Ebola outbreak successfully.
He recalled Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when health authorities contained the spread of the disease after an imported case was detected in Lagos.
According to Pate, the government was drawing on lessons from that experience while working with international health partners to manage the latest confirmed case.
The minister explained that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease. Contact with contaminated materials can also result in infection.
He listed possible symptoms to include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, urging anyone who develops such symptoms after possible exposure to seek medical attention promptly.
Pate advised Nigerians to maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the infection.
He also cautioned against stigmatising people who might have been exposed, stressing that their cooperation with health officials was necessary for effective contact tracing and monitoring.
The minister warned against circulating unverified information about the case on social media, urging the public to rely on official updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, WHO and Africa CDC.
Pate further disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been established in May 2026 to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response capabilities.
He said President Bola Tinubu had been informed of the confirmed case and had issued directives concerning the government’s response.
The minister assured Nigerians that authorities would continue providing updates as investigations, contact tracing and containment measures progressed.
Members of the public seeking official information or wishing to report suspected cases were directed to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which Pate said operates around the clock.
He emphasised that public cooperation, prompt reporting of suspected infections and adherence to verified medical advice would be crucial to containing the case and preventing further transmission.
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