BREAKING: FG Confirms Ebola Case in FCT, Identifies 44 Contacts
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), triggering an emergency public health response. At least 44 people have been identified as close contacts of the infected patient.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
According to the minister, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria aboard an international flight from Uganda.
She was subsequently admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.
The woman has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care.
The confirmation has prompted intensified disease surveillance and contact tracing across the FCT and other potentially affected locations.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is coordinating the response alongside the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities are also participating in efforts to contain the infection.
According to the government, public health teams have identified 44 close contacts of the infected patient.
Officials are tracing and monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
Those being assessed include healthcare workers, hospital patients, caregivers and individuals who may have travelled with the patient.
The government has also intensified surveillance to identify additional contacts and detect possible infections early.
The private hospital where the woman initially received treatment is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
Authorities said the interventions were necessary to protect healthcare personnel, other patients and the wider public.
People identified through contact tracing have been urged to cooperate fully with public health officials.
The government specifically appealed to potentially exposed airline passengers to provide accurate information and comply with monitoring instructions.
Following the confirmation, the Federal Government directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to strengthen their preparedness.
Healthcare professionals have been instructed to maintain a high level of suspicion when attending to patients presenting symptoms consistent with Ebola.
Hospitals must promptly identify and isolate suspected cases while observing strict infection prevention and control procedures.
Suspected infections must also be reported immediately to the appropriate public health authorities.
The government emphasised that early detection, isolation and effective contact tracing remain critical to preventing further transmission.
The Health Minister urged Nigerians to remain calm while adopting recommended preventive measures.
He identified fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea as symptoms requiring attention, particularly among people with possible exposure to Ebola.
Nigerians were advised to wash their hands regularly and avoid direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
Individuals who develop symptoms after possible exposure should avoid close contact with others and immediately seek guidance from public health authorities.
The government also advised against visiting healthcare facilities without first notifying relevant health officials where Ebola infection is suspected.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
An infected person does not transmit the virus before developing symptoms.
The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, making contact monitoring particularly important.
The latest development comes amid concerns about the spread of Ebola infections within parts of Africa.
On October 6, the NCDC issued an advisory warning about the risk of importing the disease into Nigeria.
The advisory followed a confirmed Ebola case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The development prompted heightened vigilance over international travel and possible cross-border transmission.
Nigeria’s latest confirmed case has renewed attention to the country’s disease surveillance systems and emergency preparedness.
Nigeria previously recorded an Ebola outbreak in July 2014 after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos.
The outbreak triggered an extensive public health response involving contact tracing, isolation, laboratory testing and coordinated interventions.
Health authorities successfully contained the outbreak, earning international recognition for Nigeria’s response.
The experience demonstrated the importance of early identification, effective coordination and public cooperation in controlling infectious diseases.
The Federal Government says the lessons from 2014 will guide its response to the latest case.
Pate Reassures Nigerians, Promises Regular Updates
Reassuring the public, Pate said Nigeria possesses the experience and public health infrastructure required to respond effectively.
He nevertheless stressed that preventing further transmission would require cooperation from individuals, healthcare institutions and communities.
The minister urged Nigerians to rely on official health information and avoid spreading unverified reports capable of creating unnecessary panic.
The government confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of potential exposure.
The Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC are expected to provide further updates as investigations and contact tracing progress.
Members of the public have been advised to contact the NCDC through its toll-free number, 6232, to report suspected cases or obtain reliable information.
The call centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
