…Patient arrived from Uganda; health authorities search for potentially exposed passengers, healthcare workers
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja, triggering an emergency contact-tracing operation involving at least 44 people after an infected international traveller reportedly spent several days receiving treatment at a private hospital before the disease was diagnosed.
The development has raised concerns about possible exposure among healthcare workers, fellow patients, caregivers and passengers who may have encountered the infected woman before her diagnosis.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the confirmation in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, disclosing that the patient had recently arrived in Nigeria aboard an international flight from Uganda.
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According to the minister, the woman was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed Ebola infection.
“A woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed,” the statement said.
The patient has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care, while public health authorities have commenced investigations to establish the extent of possible exposure.
Pate disclosed that 44 close contacts had already been identified, with efforts ongoing to locate and monitor other individuals who might have encountered the patient.
Those being assessed for possible exposure include healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers and individuals who travelled on the same flight or otherwise had relevant contact with the woman.
The government has not announced any additional confirmed infections.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating the response alongside other relevant agencies.
Public health teams have intensified surveillance and contact tracing, while the private hospital involved is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control procedures.
The authorities are particularly concerned about identifying individuals who may have been exposed before the infection was confirmed, although being identified as a contact does not necessarily mean a person has contracted the disease.
The government has consequently directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert and promptly report suspected cases.
Healthcare workers have been instructed to maintain a high level of suspicion, isolate patients presenting with relevant symptoms and strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols.
Pate also urged Nigerians to remain calm, stressing that public cooperation would be essential to containing the infection and preventing further transmission.
He advised members of the public to practise regular handwashing and avoid direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Symptoms associated with the disease include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among individuals with a history of possible exposure.
“Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the statement advised.
The government also appealed to individuals contacted by public health teams, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide accurate information and comply with monitoring instructions.
According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials.
Importantly, infected individuals do not transmit the virus before developing symptoms, while the incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
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The confirmed case comes amid concerns about Ebola transmission within the region.
On October 6, the NCDC had issued an advisory warning about the risk of importing the infection following a confirmed case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria previously experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller entered the country.
That outbreak was contained through coordinated public health measures, including rapid identification of cases, isolation, contact tracing and surveillance.
Pate expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to manage the current situation, citing the country’s previous experience and existing disease surveillance and response systems.
He nevertheless stressed that preventing further transmission would require the cooperation of healthcare providers, travellers and members of the public.
The Federal Government said investigations were continuing, with the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC expected to provide further updates as new information becomes available.
Nigerians seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case have been advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates around the clock.
