The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), prompting an emergency public health response to prevent further transmission.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the development in a statement 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 and received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities are coordinating the response.
Contact Tracing Begins As 44 People Are Identified
The government 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, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Authorities have also intensified disease surveillance and are supporting the hospital where the patient received treatment to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The Federal Government has directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain alert for suspected cases.
Healthcare workers have been urged to identify and isolate suspected cases promptly, maintain strict infection prevention procedures and report suspected infections immediately to public health authorities.
How Ebola Spreads And Symptoms To Watch For
The Federal Government said Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contaminated materials.
The government stressed that people infected with Ebola cannot transmit the virus before symptoms begin.
Symptoms to watch for include:
- Fever and severe weakness
- Headache
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
Nigerians have been advised to maintain regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should report promptly to public health authorities. People who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others and seek guidance from health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government also urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to cooperate with public health officials and provide the requested information.
Citizens were cautioned against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people who may have been exposed.
FG Cites Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola Response
Pate said Nigeria had the experience and public health capacity to respond to the case, citing the country’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014.
However, he emphasised that preventing further transmission would require cooperation among the public, healthcare workers and other stakeholders.
The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government, FCT authorities and their partners were coordinating efforts to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider population.
Investigations are ongoing, with further updates expected through the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free helpline on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The case announcement was also reported by Reuters on October 20, 2026.
