By Ademola Adekusibe
The Federal Government has announced a confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, involving a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. The case was confirmed through laboratory testing on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, prompting the activation of public health measures to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
According to a press statement attributed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the patient was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received medical care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving treatment, while relevant health authorities coordinate efforts to manage the situation.
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 authorities are working together to contain the infection. Contact tracing has commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. Public health teams are working to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the patient, including healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
The government said surveillance had been intensified and that the hospital where the patient received treatment was receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures. Public and private healthcare facilities across the country have also been directed to remain on high alert, with healthcare workers advised to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, maintain strict infection prevention procedures and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians who may have been exposed to the virus to cooperate with public health officials and provide the necessary information during contact tracing. Relevant airline passengers who may have come into contact with the patient have also been advised to follow official public health guidance as investigations continue.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is experiencing symptoms or has died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated materials. According to the government, a person infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
Symptoms may include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Individuals who develop these symptoms following possible exposure are advised to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility. Nigerians have also been encouraged to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola and rely on verified information from official health authorities rather than spreading unconfirmed reports.
The Federal Government recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of an Ebola outbreak in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s public health experience and response systems. It nevertheless stressed that preventing further transmission would require early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation from the public.
The government said investigations were ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, alongside the NCDC and other relevant authorities, would continue to provide updates as more information became available. Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.