By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and commenced contact tracing for 44 people identified as having had close contact with the patient.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection.
According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received medical care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical attention, while public health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission of the disease.
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 coordinating the response.
The government said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. The exercise covers healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.
Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient received treatment is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The Federal Government has urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola cases.
Healthcare workers have been directed to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control protocols, and immediately report any suspected infection to the relevant public health authorities.
Explaining the mode of transmission, the government said 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 contact with contaminated materials.
It emphasised that an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
The government advised Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
It also urged members of the public to watch out for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure to the virus.
Anyone who suspects exposure has been advised to report immediately to public health authorities, even if they feel well.
The statement further advised people who develop symptoms to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government called on anyone contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health advice.
It also warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected individuals, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.
Reassuring the public, Pate said Nigeria had successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had experience and public health systems to respond to the latest case.
However, he stressed that preventing further transmission would require early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation from members of the public.
The Federal Government said investigations were ongoing and that further updates would be provided through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.
The government urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and cooperate with public health authorities as efforts continue to contain the infection and protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider population.
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