How to reduce risk of Ebola as Nigeria confirms first case in FCT

The Federal Government has confirmed Nigeria’s first case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging heightened vigilance as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

According to the federal government, the woman began experiencing symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11. Health authorities have identified 44 close contacts and commenced monitoring and contact tracing.

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The development has renewed attention on preventive measures Nigerians can adopt to reduce the risk of infection.

Ebola is a severe and potentially fatal disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, including through contaminated objects.

The average case fatality rate, according to World Health Organisation (WHO), is around 50 per cent, although rates have varied considerably across outbreaks.

Here are seven ways to reduce the risk of Ebola infection.

1. Avoid contact with body fluids

Avoid direct contact with the blood, vomit, faeces, urine, saliva and other body fluids of anyone suspected or confirmed to have Ebola.

Do not handle contaminated clothing, bedding, medical equipment or other objects that may have come into contact with an infected person’s body fluids. Healthcare workers and caregivers should use appropriate protective equipment and follow established infection prevention procedures.

2. Avoid wild meat from potentially infected animals

Ebola can spread from infected animals to humans through contact with their blood, body fluids or tissues. Animals associated with transmission risks include bats, non-human primates and certain other wild mammals.

Avoid handling sick or dead wild animals and do not consume raw or inadequately handled meat from potentially infected wildlife. Anyone who has had direct contact with a sick or dead wild animal should seek guidance from public health authorities.

Avoid direct physical contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have Ebola, particularly contact with their body fluids.

People experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention and follow public health instructions. Families should not attempt to provide unprotected care at home, as close contact with an infected person can expose others to the virus.

4. Seek medical care early

Early medical assessment is essential when symptoms suggest a possible Ebola infection, particularly following travel to an area experiencing an outbreak or contact with a suspected case.

Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and other complications. These symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, so laboratory testing and professional assessment are necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Anyone who develops symptoms after a possible exposure should contact a healthcare provider or public health authority promptly and explain their symptoms and exposure history before arriving at a health facility, so appropriate precautions can be arranged.

5. Ensure suspected patients are isolated in designated treatment facilities

People suspected of having Ebola should be assessed and managed by trained healthcare professionals in designated facilities with appropriate infection prevention and control measures.

Isolation helps prevent exposure to other patients, healthcare workers, caregivers and members of the public while diagnostic tests are conducted and appropriate care is provided.

The public should avoid attempting to transport or treat suspected cases without guidance from health authorities.

6. Ensure safe and dignified burials

The bodies of people who have died from Ebola may remain infectious. Direct contact with a deceased person’s body during washing, dressing or funeral rites can expose mourners to the virus.

Families should notify the appropriate health authorities if Ebola is suspected and allow trained burial teams to handle the body safely.

Burial arrangements should respect the dignity of the deceased and the cultural and religious concerns of the family while following public health precautions.

7. Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet, before eating and after potential contact with contaminated materials.

Avoid touching objects that may have been contaminated with the body fluids of an infected person. Healthcare facilities should maintain appropriate cleaning, disinfection, waste management and infection prevention procedures.

Good hygiene supports Ebola prevention but should be combined with avoiding exposure, early reporting and other public health measures.