FG confirms Ebola case in FCT, tracks 44 contacts

The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 44 contacts identified for monitoring as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, saying laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who recently returned from Uganda.

Pate said the patient developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private health facility on October 11 before the infection was confirmed. He added that she had been isolated and was receiving medical care, with her condition stable.

“Today, we are confirming that there has been one imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory. A laboratory confirmation was received today,” the minister said.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), FCT Health Secretariat, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had activated coordinated measures to contain the infection.

According to him, the 44 contacts identified so far include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who might have come into contact with the patient during her journey.

He said contact tracing was continuing to identify other people who might have been exposed to the virus, while the private hospital where the woman initially received treatment was receiving support to strengthen its infection prevention and control measures.

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“The patient is stable, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure that we contain this through tracing all the contacts that this individual may have had,” he said.

The minister urged public and private health facilities across the country to remain vigilant, promptly report suspected cases and comply strictly with infection prevention and control protocols.

He said early detection, immediate isolation and effective contact tracing were critical to preventing further transmission, adding that the government had activated its incident management system to coordinate surveillance and emergency response activities.

Pate appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, assuring them that the country had the expertise and public health infrastructure required to manage the situation.

He recalled Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when health authorities contained the spread of the virus after an imported case was detected in Lagos.

“Nigeria rapidly mobilised and effectively controlled that outbreak,” he said, adding that the government was drawing on lessons from the experience, alongside support from international partners, to respond to the latest case.

The minister explained that Ebola could spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who was sick or had died from the disease. Contact with contaminated materials could also result in infection.

He listed possible symptoms to include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, advising anyone who developed such symptoms after possible exposure to seek medical attention and follow instructions from public health authorities.

Pate urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having the infection.

He also cautioned against stigmatising people who might have been exposed, stressing that their cooperation with health officials was necessary to identify potential cases and prevent further spread.

The minister warned against circulating unverified reports on social media, urging the public to rely on official updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, WHO and Africa CDC.

“Misinformation, rumours spread through social media, Nigerians should avoid that,” he said.

Pate further disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been constituted in May 2026 to strengthen the country’s preparedness. He said President Bola Tinubu was aware of the confirmed case and had issued directives on the government’s response.

He assured Nigerians that the government would continue to provide updates as contact tracing and other containment measures progressed.

The minister directed members of the public seeking official information or wishing to report suspected cases to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which he said was available round the clock.

He stressed that public cooperation, prompt reporting of suspected cases and adherence to verified medical advice would be essential to containing the infection and preventing a wider outbreak.