The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with contact tracing already underway to prevent further spread of the infection.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the case.
According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.
She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
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.
The statement said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. Public health teams are working to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient received treatment is being supported to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The Federal Government has directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola cases.
Healthcare workers were urged to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control procedures, and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.
Explaining how the disease spreads, the government said Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, as well as contact with contaminated materials.
It stressed that people infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms appear.
Nigerians were advised to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
The government also urged citizens to watch for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure.
Anyone who suspects exposure was advised to report immediately, even if they felt well.
Those who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The statement further urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health advice.
It warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected persons, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.
The government recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s experience and public health systems to respond to the latest case.
It, however, emphasised that preventing further transmission would require public cooperation, early detection and prompt reporting of suspected cases.
The Federal Government said investigations were continuing and that further updates would be provided through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.
Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were advised to call the NCDC’s toll-free line on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
