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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), thus raising fresh public health concerns as authorities begin tracing 44 people who may have been exposed to the infection.
The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the disease on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The Federal Government said the woman had been placed in isolation and was receiving medical care, while public health authorities intensified surveillance and contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, however, assured Nigerians that the government was working with the FCT authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to contain the infection.
The minister said the 44 identified close contacts included people whose exposure may have occurred through healthcare interactions, as well as healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
He told journalists that public health teams had commenced efforts to identify and monitor individuals who may have come into contact with the patient.
“Similarly, the hospital where the woman received treatment is also receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures,” he said.
The government called on public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain on high alert, urging health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, and immediately report them to public health authorities.
It also stressed the need for strict adherence to infection prevention and control procedures in healthcare facilities.
Explaining how the disease spreads, the minister said Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, or through contact with contaminated materials.
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He added that an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin. “Nigerians are advised to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected to have Ebola,” he said.
The minister also urged citizens to watch out for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly following possible exposure. “Those who suspect they may have been exposed are advised to report immediately to public health authorities, even if they were not experiencing symptoms.”
“Also, anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” he added.
The minister further urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to cooperate with health officials, provide necessary information and comply with public health advice.
He warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising people who may have been exposed, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.
Reassuring the public, Pate said Nigeria had successfully contained Ebola in 2014 and possessed the experience and public health systems required to respond to the current case.
He, however, emphasised that containing the infection would require cooperation from the public, healthcare workers and other stakeholders.
“The Federal Government, FCT authorities and other partners are working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public,” the statement said.
The minister added that investigations were ongoing and that the government would continue to provide accurate and timely information as the response progressed.
He said the government, through the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC, would continue to issue updates on the situation.
Meanwhile, members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on **6232**, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
