Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria and identified 44 close contacts as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further spread of the infection.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the case.
According to the minister, the patient, 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 woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are working with other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
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The government said public health teams had commenced contact tracing involving the 44 identified contacts and were working to identify and monitor other potentially exposed persons, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient was treated is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The Federal Government has directed public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola infections.
Healthcare workers have been urged to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control protocols, and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.
Pate called on Nigerians to remain calm while observing preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
The minister advised anyone who develops symptom of Ebola which included fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed to the virus, to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
He also appealed to people contacted by public health teams during the tracing exercise, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with official instructions.
According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces. Infected individuals do not transmit the virus before symptoms develop, while the incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
The Federal Government said investigations were ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, alongside the NCDC, would continue to provide updates.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.
