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Nigeria is on high alert after the federal government confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday, 20 October, 2026.
The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, is currently in isolation and receiving medical care at a private hospital in the FCT, according to a statement signed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate.
Contact tracing has commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far, according to the statement. The contacts include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts, while public health teams are identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed.
“The FG calls on all public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to be on high alert. Healthcare workers must maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities,” it noted.
The statement urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant, advising people to maintain hand hygiene and avoid direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of people suspected to have Ebola.
Symptoms to watch for include severe weakness, headache, vomiting, and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed.
“Report any possible exposure immediately, even if you feel well. If you develop symptoms, avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” it noted.
The government also urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide the required information and comply with public health instructions.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or through contaminated materials.
The confirmation comes weeks after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) raised the country’s preparedness level following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a 22 September advisory, the agency said travellers from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission could be required to complete a Health Declaration Form as part of enhanced surveillance and follow-up measures. The form captures travel history, countries visited in the previous 21 days and health information.
It is not yet clear whether the Health Declaration Form or other entry-point surveillance measures helped identify the woman now receiving treatment in Abuja.
Nigeria recorded an outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. WHO later declared Nigeria free of Ebola transmission on 20 October 2014, after 42 days without a new case.
WHO records show that Nigeria’s 2014 response involved rapid case detection, isolation and extensive contact tracing. Nineteen confirmed cases and one probable case were recorded, with eight deaths.
“Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014, and we have the experience and public health systems to respond to this case. However, containing Ebola requires everyone to play their part,” the federal government noted.
“The federal government, FCT authorities and other partners are working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public. Investigations are ongoing, and we will continue to provide accurate and timely information.”
The government said investigations are ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and NCDC will continue to provide updates.
It added that “NCDC free call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information or to report a suspected case, please call NCDC toll-free number 6232.”
The Nigerian case comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where the disease has spread across several provinces.
WHO reported more than 8,700 confirmed cases and more than 4,200 deaths in the DRC as of 6 October, with transmission continuing across dozens of health zones. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Kenya reported its first imported case on 6 October: a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC and travelled to Kenya via Uganda.
On 20 October, Kenyan authorities confirmed a ninth case involving a close family member of the first patient.
Uganda, from which the Nigerian patient recently travelled, recorded 20 cases between May and June 2026. The country subsequently ended its outbreak after completing the required 42-day period without a new confirmed case.
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