The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and has initiated contact tracing following the identification of 44 contacts.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed on Tuesday that the infected woman had recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms on October 7, four days before seeking medical attention at a private hospital in Abuja.
According to Pate, the patient visited the facility on October 11, but her condition subsequently worsened, prompting further tests that confirmed the infection on October 20, 2026.
“The patient is a woman who had travelled to Eastern Africa, to Uganda in particular. She came back, had symptoms that commenced on the 7th of October.
“On the 11th, she attended a private facility where she was being taken care of. Her symptoms progressed, and further tests indicated that she had Ebola virus disease”, the minister said.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health authorities work to identify and monitor everyone who might have been exposed to the virus.
“Contact tracing has been conducted, and is underway as we speak, with 44 contacts already identified”, Pate said.
He said the contacts being monitored included healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who might have travelled with the woman.
The minister specifically urged anyone contacted by public health teams, including passengers who might have travelled with the patient, to provide the requested information and comply with public health advice.
“Anyone contacted during the contact tracing period that we are in, including those who may have travelled with that individual, should provide necessary information requested and follow public health advice”, he said.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the FCT Health Secretariat, the World Health Organisation and Africa CDC are collaborating to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
Pate said the private hospital where the patient received treatment was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
He also urged public and private health facilities nationwide to remain on high alert and promptly isolate and report suspected cases.
The confirmation in Nigeria comes amid a wider regional Ebola emergency.
Kenya has reported nine confirmed cases as at Tuesday, October 20, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to battle the outbreak.
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, avoid spreading unverified information and cooperate with contact-tracing teams.
He recalled Nigeria successful containment of an Ebola outbreak in 2014, saying the country had the public health expertise and response systems required to manage the current case.
The minister also disclosed that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been constituted in May 2026 as part of the government’s preparedness efforts.
Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report suspected cases can contact the NCDC’s toll-free line, 6232, which the minister said operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Federal Government said investigations and contact tracing were continuing, with further updates expected as more information becomes available.
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