The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with health authorities already tracing 44 people who may have had contact with the patient.
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced the development at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. He said laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who recently travelled to Uganda in East Africa.
Patient returned from Uganda with symptoms
The minister explained that the patient returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, which worsened four days later before tests confirmed Ebola. He said the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other agencies are working together to prevent the virus from spreading.
Pate stated that health officials had begun tracing and monitoring people who might have been exposed to the patient. He urged those contacted, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the requested information and follow health officials' instructions.
Health facilities urged to report suspected cases
The minister also asked hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country to watch out for suspected Ebola cases and report them quickly. He advised health workers to identify and isolate suspected patients promptly and follow strict safety measures.
Pate added that anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before going to a hospital.
Public warned against stigmatisation
The minister warned Nigerians against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people who might have been exposed to the virus. He urged the public to rely on updates from official health authorities.
This is the first confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria since the 2014 outbreak that killed eight people. The current case is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which has claimed at least 29 lives since September.
