The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with 44 contacts identified for monitoring as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
Desk: Health
Date: 20 October 2026
Time: 19:23 WAT
Location: Abuja, FCT
Author: Nokai Origin
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the laboratory-confirmed case at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20. He said the patient was a woman who had recently travelled to Uganda and was in isolation receiving medical care.
Pate said the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention at a private health facility on October 11. Subsequent laboratory tests confirmed the infection, prompting contact tracing and further public health measures.
Contact Tracing Underway as Health Agencies Coordinate Response
According to the minister, 44 contacts had been identified for monitoring. They include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel-related contacts who may have been exposed to the patient. Public health teams are continuing to identify and monitor additional people who might have come into contact with her.
The response involves the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“The patient is stable, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure that we contain this through tracing all the contacts that this individual may have had,” Pate said.
He added that the private hospital where the patient received treatment was being supported to strengthen its infection prevention and control measures.
Healthcare Facilities Told to Maintain High Vigilance
The minister urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control procedures, and report suspected infections immediately to public health authorities.
He said early detection, prompt isolation and effective contact tracing were essential to preventing further transmission. Public health teams are also relying on the cooperation of people contacted during the tracing exercise to establish possible exposures and limit the risk of additional cases.
Pate advised Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene and avoid direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola. He identified symptoms to watch for, particularly following possible exposure, as fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea.
He urged people who might have been exposed to follow guidance from public health authorities and cautioned against panic, discrimination or stigmatisation of anyone who may have had contact with the patient.
Nigeria Draws on Experience From 2014 Ebola Outbreak
Pate recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, saying the country had developed public health expertise and response systems that could be mobilised to manage the current case.
“Nigeria rapidly mobilised and effectively controlled that outbreak,” he said.
He attributed the country’s response capacity to investments in public health infrastructure, emergency operations centres and the training of health professionals, including expertise developed through Nigeria’s polio eradication programme.
The minister said the government was drawing on these capabilities while working with international partners to contain the infection. He also disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been constituted in May 2026 as part of preparations for the threat.
Pate said President Bola Tinubu was aware of the situation and had issued directives on the government’s response. The incident management system has been activated to coordinate surveillance, contact tracing and other containment measures.
Public Urged to Rely on Verified Health Information
The minister cautioned Nigerians against circulating unverified information on social media, urging them to rely on updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, WHO and Africa CDC.
He also called on anyone contacted by public health teams, including people who might have travelled with the patient, to provide the requested information and comply with official advice.
Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.
The government said its immediate priorities were to trace all possible contacts, strengthen infection prevention and control measures, and prevent the imported case from developing into wider transmission.
🏷️ Tags: Ebola in Nigeria, Abuja Health News, Muhammad Ali Pate, NCDC, Ebola Contact Tracing, Public Health
#ZigHealth #ZigDiariesHealth #Ebola #NigeriaHealth #PublicHealth
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