Nigeria Confirms Imported Ebola Case in Abuja
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with health authorities stepping up surveillance and contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
The case was confirmed on October 20, 2026, according to a statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The patient, a woman who recently travelled from Uganda, reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria. She sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11, before laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while investigations are ongoing to determine the likely source of infection and establish her full travel and exposure history.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, authorities have identified 44 contacts so far and are monitoring them for possible signs of infection.
Health authorities are also strengthening infection prevention and control measures at the private health facility where the patient initially sought treatment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate the national response, including case investigation, contact tracing and other containment measures.
The WHO and its partners are supporting Nigerian health authorities with technical assistance, infection prevention measures and essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
Nigeria is the fifth country to detect the virus since an outbreak was declared by the WHO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, 2026.
The WHO also reported that Kenya had recorded nine cases linked to an imported infection in recent weeks, highlighting the need for countries across the region to strengthen preparedness and surveillance.
The global health agency urged countries to maintain effective disease surveillance, ensure laboratory readiness, strengthen infection prevention in public and private health facilities, and keep rapid-response teams prepared to investigate suspected cases.
It also called for increased monitoring at points of entry and stronger community engagement to support early detection and prevent further transmission.
The WHO advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by the outbreak, saying it would continue to assess the situation as new information becomes available.
