The Federal Government has reportedly confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and commenced contact tracing after identifying 44 people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, was quoted as confirming the development in a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, following a reported laboratory confirmation 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.
The woman was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently said to be in isolation and receiving medical care.
Pate said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection.
He explained that contact tracing had begun, with public health teams identifying and monitoring individuals who might have been exposed to the virus.
Those being monitored reportedly include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have come into contact with the woman during her travels.
The statement added that surveillance had been intensified, while the hospital where the patient was treated was receiving support to improve infection prevention and control measures.
FG Issues Public Health Advisory
The minister urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the required information and follow public health guidance.
He also called on public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected Ebola cases to the relevant authorities.
Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high level of suspicion, identify and isolate suspected cases without delay, and strictly observe infection prevention and control procedures.
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 people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Pate advised anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to the virus to contact public health authorities immediately, even if they have not developed symptoms.
He also urged people who develop symptoms to avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
NCDC Provides Emergency Contact Number
The minister warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising people who might have been exposed to the virus. He encouraged Nigerians 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 wider public, adding that investigations were ongoing.
The statement further disclosed that the NCDC’s toll-free call centre was 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.
