The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following laboratory confirmation on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the development, stating that the patient, a woman who recently travelled to Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in the FCT before her diagnosis was confirmed.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health authorities have commenced contact tracing to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
According to the government, 44 close contacts have been identified so far. They include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts who may have come into contact with the patient.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities are working together to contain the infection and prevent further spread.
Public health surveillance has also been intensified, while the private hospital where the patient received treatment is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the case involves the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola responsible for an ongoing outbreak that was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026. Nigeria is the latest country to report a case linked to the wider regional public health situation, although investigations into the patient’s precise exposure history remain ongoing.
Health authorities are working to establish the likely source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history. Her journey through Uganda does not, by itself, establish that she contracted the virus there.
The Federal Government has urged healthcare facilities to remain vigilant, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control procedures, and report suspected infections to the appropriate public health authorities.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated materials. Early detection, prompt isolation, careful monitoring of contacts and appropriate infection control measures are important in limiting transmission.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 through coordinated public health interventions, including contact tracing, isolation and surveillance. The government has expressed confidence in the country’s experience and response capacity while emphasising the need for continued vigilance.
The authorities say investigations and contact tracing are ongoing as the country works to prevent additional infections. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
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