Nigeria’s Federal Government has confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and begun tracing 44 people who may have been exposed.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection.
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.
The Federal Government said contact tracing had commenced, with public health teams working to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed, 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 its infection prevention and control measures.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the Federal Government was working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
The government has directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, urging medical personnel to identify and isolate suspected cases promptly, observe strict infection prevention measures and report suspected infections to public health authorities without delay.
The statement urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and familiarise themselves with the symptoms of Ebola, which include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly following possible exposure.
It explained that the disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease, as well as contact with contaminated materials.
The government stressed that an infected person cannot transmit Ebola before symptoms begin.
Nigerians were advised to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of suspected cases and report possible exposure to public health authorities, even when they feel well.
Anyone who develops symptoms was advised to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government also urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health instructions.
It warned against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Reassuring the public, the Federal Government recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s public health systems and experience in responding to the latest case.
“However, containing Ebola requires everyone to play their part,” the statement said.
The government added that investigations were ongoing and pledged to provide accurate and timely updates as the response progressed.
It urged Nigerians to remain calm, stay vigilant and cooperate with public health officials, stressing that early detection and prompt reporting were critical to preventing further spread.
The statement said the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) would continue to provide updates on the situation.
Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.