The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed one imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory and is working closely with the Government of Uganda and international partners to contain any further spread.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this following laboratory confirmation of the case on 20 October 2026.
The patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She developed symptoms on 7 October, four days after arrival, and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on 11 October. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
Professor Pate stated that contact tracing commenced immediately. Forty-four contacts, including healthcare workers, caregivers, and travel contacts, have been identified and are under monitoring. Surveillance has been intensified at all points of entry, and infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened at the facility where the patient sought care.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its incident management system to coordinate the response. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCT Health Secretariat, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other partners are collaborating to prevent further transmission.
Professor Pate noted that Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014 and possesses the experience and public health systems required to respond effectively. He described the current case as contained, with no evidence of community transmission at this time.
Investigations into the source of infection continue. Nigerian authorities are exchanging information with Ugandan health officials on the patient’s travel itinerary and clinical history to support joint efforts. Uganda has stated that it has no confirmed active Ebola cases and that the location of exposure remains under investigation.
