Nigeria confirms first Ebola case in Abuja as outbreak spreads across Africa

• Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in its capital, Abuja, after a woman who travelled from Uganda tested positive for the virus
• Health authorities identified 44 contacts of the patient and launched an urgent tracing operation to contain the spread
• The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become the most geographically extensive in history, with a fatality rate of nearly 50%

Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in Abuja after a woman who transited through Uganda tested positive for the virus. The health ministry announced the development on 21 October 2026, raising alarm across the region as the outbreak continues to widen.

The woman first developed symptoms on 7 October and was admitted to an Abuja hospital four days later, where she was subsequently diagnosed. According to Uganda's health ministry, she is a Nigerian national who had been on a business trip to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and only passed through Uganda in transit.

Nigeria launches contact tracing after Ebola diagnosis

Health Minister Muhammad Pate confirmed that authorities have identified 44 people who came into contact with the patient. Pate said:

"We are doing everything possible to contain this case by tracing all the contacts the individual may have had."

Uganda, for its part, distanced itself from being the source of infection.

"Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation," the Ugandan health ministry stated, adding that the country has no confirmed active Ebola cases.

Nigeria had been preparing for a possible case since June 2026, when it established an Ebola taskforce following the outbreak's emergence in Congo in mid-May. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had also ramped up surveillance two weeks prior after Kenya confirmed its first case. Kenya has since recorded nine infections.

Bundibugyo outbreak now the most widespread in history

The strain responsible for the current outbreak is the Bundibugyo Ebola virus. Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, described the situation as "an extremely serious threat," noting a fatality rate of nearly 50%. Dr Kaseya said:

"This Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has already become the most geographically extensive in history, affecting several countries spread across three regions of Africa."

More than 9,500 people have been infected and over 4,600 have died since the outbreak began. The World Health Organization has warned that the current outbreak is the fastest-spreading on record and is tracking to surpass the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which killed approximately 11,000 people across West Africa between 2014 and 2016.

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Source: Briefly News

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