The Federal Government has commenced contact tracing after confirming an imported case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 44 people identified as possible contacts of the patient.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged Nigerians to remain calm, rely on verified information and promptly report suspected cases as health authorities intensify surveillance and containment efforts.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the confirmed case on Tuesday, October 20, following laboratory confirmation of the infection.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital in Abuja on October 11 before the infection was confirmed on October 20.
She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while health authorities investigate her travel and exposure history.
The Federal Government is coordinating its response through the health ministry, NCDC, the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies to prevent further transmission.
The 44 contacts identified so far include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have encountered the patient during her travels. Public health teams are monitoring those identified and continuing efforts to locate additional people who may have been exposed.
The hospital where the patient received treatment is also receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, while surveillance has been intensified to identify any further suspected cases.
In its reaction to the development, the NCDC urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid spreading unverified information about the outbreak.
The agency stressed that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died, as well as contact with contaminated materials.
It emphasised the importance of early reporting, noting that prompt identification and isolation of suspected cases are critical to preventing further transmission.
The agency also advised Nigerians to obtain information from credible sources and cooperate with public health officials throughout the response.
The health minister urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health guidance.
He also called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to maintain a high level of vigilance, promptly report suspected cases and strictly observe infection prevention and control procedures.
Symptoms of Ebola may include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, these symptoms can also occur in other illnesses and do not, on their own, confirm an Ebola infection.
Anyone who suspects exposure to the virus has been advised to contact public health authorities immediately. People who develop symptoms after possible exposure should avoid close contact with others and call health officials for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government has also cautioned against stigmatising people who may have been exposed, urging Nigerians to support public health efforts and rely on official updates.
The NCDC’s toll-free Connect Centre is available around the clock to provide information and receive reports of suspected cases. Members of the public can call 6232 for assistance.
The confirmed case comes amid an ongoing outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease that was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026 and has spread beyond its initial location.
Before Nigeria confirmed its first case in the current outbreak, the NCDC had already raised concerns about the risk of the virus being imported into the country, citing regional transmission, international travel and population movement.
The World Health Organisation confirmed Nigeria’s imported case on October 20, saying investigations were continuing to establish the likely source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history.
Nigeria has previous experience containing Ebola. In 2014, an infected traveller from Liberia introduced the virus into Lagos, but coordinated surveillance, isolation, contact tracing and public health interventions helped prevent a larger outbreak.
The current response once again places emphasis on early detection, effective contact tracing, infection prevention and public cooperation to reduce the risk of further transmission.
The authorities say investigations and monitoring are continuing as health officials work to contain the infection and protect the wider population.