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In an update on the shocking return of the deadly Ebola infection to Nigeria 20 years after, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the deteriorating condition of the patient, a diplomat, at an emergency meeting on its coordinated response activities.
According to the NCDC, 44 close contacts were identified so far, and currently being monitored.
They include health workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
The agency said the patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care while surveillance has been increased.
Announcing this Wednesday in Abuja, Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the NCDC, Olajumoke Babatunde, said the patient is a diplomat whose condition has deteriorated to multi-organ failure.
She described the case as Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a similar one that caused the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stating that three levels of molecular tests were done to confirm the strain.
“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” Olajumoke said.
The centre described that patient as a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja on October 3, 2026 and was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT where she was first treated for malaria-like symptoms before Ebola was later suspected.
In a related account, the Incident Manager of the National Ebola Response, Dr Odianosen Ehiakhamen, said the patient developed Ebola first broke out in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 7, 2026, and presented at the hospital on October 11.
…NASS raises concerns
And at different sessions Thursday, the Senate and House of Representatives called on the federal government to release emergency fund from the service wide vote to combat the deadly Ebola virus.
And in the midst of all this, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged to support the Nigerian government even as the Ugandan government denied being the source of the infection in Nigeria.
In its intervention at plenary, the Senate rejected call for visitation to entry points by relevant committees of the Senate as requested in a motion sponsored by Senator Dayo Faduyile (Ondo South).
The motion was titled “Urgent Need to Enforce Mandatory Health Screening at all International Airports and other Entry Points to Prevent the Importation of Ebola and other Epidemic Prone Diseases into Nigeria.”
Rather, the Red Chamber, on the strength of the motion, urged the federal government to release emergency fund from the service wide vote to fight the deadly scourge.
After an extensive debate among the lawmakers, the Senate adopted all prayers sought, but rejected the one requesting members of relevant committees to liaise with relevant agencies to visit principal entry points and report back within four weeks.
The motion reads “Mandate the Committees on Health, Primary Health Care, Development and Disease Control, Aviation, Interior and Appropriations to liaise with the relevant agencies, visit the principal entry points and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.”
Apparently avoiding to have anything to do physically with Ebola related virus, when the prayer was put to voice votes by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, all the senators shouted nay.
In his lead debate, Senator Faduyile said the outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had reportedly spread to other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya, increasing concerns that infected travellers could enter Nigeria through transit countries.
He also cited an assessment by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), which reportedly identified a high risk of Ebola being imported into Nigeria.
He recalled the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, when an infected traveller introduced the virus into Lagos, stressing the importance of strengthening preventive measures at the country’s points of entry.
Although the Senate acknowledged existing government interventions, including health declaration forms and increased surveillance, lawmakers expressed concern that screening was largely limited to travellers arriving from selected countries.
According to the Senate, this approach could create gaps in disease surveillance and expose the country to avoidable public health risks.
The lawmakers also raised concerns about shortages of trained personnel and essential screening equipment at some entry points.
They noted that Port Health Services continues to operate under the Quarantine Act of 1926, which they said requires modernisation to address current public health challenges.
The Senate further warned that Nigeria’s existing health threats, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria, made stronger preparedness measures necessary.
Consequently, the Senate called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to ensure that all international passengers arriving in Nigeria undergo mandatory health screening, irrespective of nationality or country of departure.
The proposed screening measures include completing health declaration forms, temperature checks and assessments for symptoms associated with infectious diseases.
It also recommended enhanced monitoring of travellers who had visited or transited through affected areas within the preceding 21 days.
The Senate further called for departure screening for passengers leaving Nigeria whenever a public health emergency has been declared.
To improve preparedness, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that entry points have enough trained Port Health officers, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation facilities.
It also called on the federal government to ensure that isolation and treatment centres across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory are adequately equipped to respond to potential outbreaks.
On legislative reforms, the Senate advocated replacing the Quarantine Act of 1926 with updated public health legislation aligned with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
The lawmakers also urged the ministries responsible for finance, budget and economic planning to provide adequate funding for the NCDC and Port Health Services in the 2027 budget.
They further called for the release of outstanding funds to enable the agencies to strengthen disease surveillance and improve Nigeria’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
…From Reps
Similarly, the Lower Chamber urged the federal government to focus more on strong preventive and emergency medical measures against the virus.
Like the Senate, the lawmakers called for the immediate release of outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies to boost the country’s preparedness and response capacity.
The resolutions, at the plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Isuikwato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia state, Amobi Ogah.
In his presentation, Ogah described Ebola Virus Disease as a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease that requires prompt detection, effective infection prevention and control measures, and coordinated public health intervention to prevent transmission and save lives.
He said: “It is extremely disturbing that yesterday, October 20, 2026 an Ebola Virus case was confirmed in a woman arriving from Uganda in Abuja who tested positive. Health authorities traced 44 contacts for isolation and further tests.”
According to him, delays in detecting suspected cases, conducting laboratory investigations, isolating infected persons, tracing contacts and providing timely medical care, could increase the risk of transmission and put additional pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
The lawmaker further said: “The House is further concerned that inadequate public awareness, insufficient infection prevention and control supplies, gaps in healthcare workers’ preparedness, and limited emergency response capacity could undermine efforts to prevent and contain the Ebola outbreak.
“We recognise the critical roles of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, relevant state ministries of health, port health authorities, and other stakeholders in strengthening national epidemic preparedness and response.
“We acknowledge the importance of coordination with the World Health Organisation and other relevant international and regional public health institutions to ensure that Nigeria’s preventive and response measures are guided by current scientific evidence and international health regulations.”
At the end of various submissions, the lawmakers adopted the motion and called on the federal government to immediately mobilise private, state and federal health agencies and place them on high alert to contain the outbreak.
Similarly, they also urged the federal government, through the Ministry of Finance, to release all outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies without delay.
The funds, the lawmakers resolved, were necessary to enable the agencies to discharge their responsibilities effectively, particularly as the country steps up surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and other emergency response measures.
Besides, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to assess the funding required to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacity in line with current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.
Further to this, they mandated the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and public health institutions to obtain updates on the country’s Ebola situation and the measures being taken to prevent further transmission.
…WHO pledges, Uganda kicks
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is supporting the Nigerian health authorities with case investigation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for health workers.
WHO urged countries across the Africa region to maintain heightened surveillance and readiness as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to evolve, noting that Kenya has also reported nine cases linked to an imported infection.
It advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease, following Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported case.
The global health agency said it was closely monitoring the situation and would continue to verify travel and trade measures introduced in response to the outbreak, while regularly reassessing its risk assessment as new developments emerge.
The agency also urged countries across the region to strengthen disease surveillance, investigate alerts promptly, ensure laboratories can safely test suspected cases and keep rapid response and clinical teams ready for immediate deployment.
It also urged authorities to reinforce infection prevention and control in public and private health facilities, stock essential medical supplies, engage communities and heighten monitoring at points of entry.
“Sustained readiness is essential to detect cases early, prevent onward transmission and protect health workers and communities,” it said.
But Uganda, through its Ministry of Health, denied having any confirmed active Ebola case.
It said the woman only transited through the country early October without symptoms and developed symptoms upon arriving Nigeria.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here,” the ministry said, adding that “as at the time of this statement, Uganda has no confirmed active Ebola cases.”
Uganda said Nigeria had yet to provide detailed information on the woman’s itinerary and clinical history to assist further investigations and contact tracing.
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