The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), triggering an emergency public health response and contact-tracing efforts targeting 44 people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, following laboratory confirmation of the infection on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the infection was confirmed.
The woman has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care, while health authorities work to prevent further transmission.
Pate said 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 agencies were collaborating to contain the infection.
He disclosed that contact tracing had commenced, with public health teams identifying and monitoring individuals who might have come into contact with the patient.
Those being monitored reportedly include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and individuals who may have been exposed to the woman during her travels.
The minister added that surveillance had been intensified, while the hospital where the patient was treated was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
He urged individuals contacted by public health officials, including relevant airline passengers, to provide accurate information and comply with all public health instructions.
Pate also called on public and private healthcare facilities across the country to strengthen vigilance and promptly report suspected Ebola cases to the appropriate authorities.
Healthcare workers were specifically advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, and strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols.
The government urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
The minister advised anyone who suspects exposure to contact public health authorities immediately, even if they have not developed symptoms.
He further urged anyone experiencing possible symptoms to avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
Warning against misinformation and discrimination, Pate urged Nigerians not to spread rumours or stigmatise individuals who may have been exposed, but to rely on verified information from official health authorities.
He said the Federal Government, FCT authorities and their partners were working to protect healthcare workers, patients and the general public, adding that investigations into the reported case were ongoing.
The statement also disclosed that the NCDC’s toll-free call centre remained available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide information and receive reports of suspected cases.
Members of the public were advised to call 6232 for assistance.
