The patient, who recently arrived from Uganda, is in isolation as health authorities intensify surveillance and contact tracing.
The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and identified 44 close contacts as authorities begin efforts to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a press statement on Tuesday, 20 October 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 care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
She is currently in isolation and receiving medical treatment.
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.
Contact tracing has commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. They include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Public health teams are working to identify and monitor other people who may have been exposed. Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient received treatment is being supported to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
FG urges hospitals to strengthen Ebola surveillance
The Federal Government has directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert and promptly report suspected cases to public health authorities.
Healthcare workers have been advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, isolate suspected cases without delay and observe strict infection prevention and control procedures.
The government also urged anyone who may have been exposed to the infection to report the possible exposure immediately, even if they have no symptoms.
People who develop symptoms have been advised to avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The symptoms highlighted in the statement include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The government further urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health advice.
How Ebola spreads and what Nigerians should do
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease or has died from it. Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated materials.
According to the Federal Government, an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
Nigerians have been urged to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola and rely on verified information from official health authorities.
The government also warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The NCDC’s toll-free call centre, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can be reached on 6232 for information or to report a suspected case.
Nigeria activates response amid regional outbreak
The confirmation comes as health authorities across parts of Africa respond to an evolving Ebola outbreak.
On 6 October, the NCDC warned of the risk of Ebola being imported into Nigeria after Kenya confirmed an imported case linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the time, the agency said Nigeria had no confirmed case and was strengthening its preparedness measures.
Nigeria has previous experience responding to Ebola. In 2014, the country contained an outbreak after an infected traveller introduced the virus, with case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions forming key parts of the response.
Pate said Nigeria had the experience and public health systems needed to respond, but stressed that containing the infection would require public cooperation.
The Federal Government said investigations were continuing and that it would provide further updates through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.
