Nigerian Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with health authorities identifying 44 contacts for monitoring as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who recently returned from Uganda. He added that the patient was stable and receiving treatment in isolation.
The confirmation has prompted an emergency response involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Secretariat, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“Today, we are confirming that there has been one imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory. A laboratory confirmation was received today,” Pate said.
According to the minister, the patient developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private health facility on October 11 before subsequent tests confirmed the infection.
He said the 44 contacts identified so far include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have encountered the woman during her journey.
“The patient is stable, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure that we contain this through tracing all the contacts that this individual may have had,” he said.
Pate disclosed that contact tracing was ongoing, while the private hospital where the woman initially received treatment was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
He urged public and private hospitals across the country to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected cases, emphasising the importance of early detection, immediate isolation and strict adherence to infection-control procedures.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, citing the country’s successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which began after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos.
“Nigeria rapidly mobilised and effectively controlled that outbreak,” he said, attributing the country’s response capacity to investments in public health infrastructure, emergency operations centres and the training of health professionals.
He said authorities were drawing on lessons from the previous outbreak, alongside support from international partners, to contain the latest case.
Explaining how the disease spreads, Pate said Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease. Contact with contaminated materials can also result in infection.
He listed possible symptoms as fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, urging anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure to seek medical attention and follow public health guidance.
The minister cautioned against stigmatising people who might have been exposed to the virus, urging those contacted by health officials to cooperate with the tracing exercise.
“We advise everyone to remain calm, but vigilant. There is no need for panic,” he said.
He also warned against circulating unverified information on social media, advising Nigerians to rely on official updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, WHO and Africa CDC.
Pate said the incident management system had been activated to coordinate surveillance, contact tracing and other emergency response measures.
He further disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease was constituted in May 2026 to strengthen national preparedness. President Bola Tinubu had also been briefed and issued directives on the response, he added.
The minister said the government would continue to provide updates as authorities monitor the identified contacts and work to prevent further transmission.
He urged members of the public seeking official information or wishing to report suspected cases to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which he said operates round the clock.
Pate said public cooperation, prompt reporting and adherence to verified medical advice would be crucial to containing the infection.
, with health authorities){kind=link}