By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 44 close contacts already identified as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
The patient, a woman who recently returned to Nigeria from Uganda, is currently in isolation and receiving medical care after laboratory tests confirmed the infection on Tuesday.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the development at a media conference in Abuja on Tuesday, saying response measures had been activated to contain the infection.
Pate said the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention at a private health facility on October 11. She was subsequently admitted and treated before the diagnosis was confirmed.
“Today, we are confirming that there has been one imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory. A laboratory confirmation was received today,” Pate said.
He said 44 people had so far been identified for monitoring, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel-related contacts who may have been exposed to the infected woman.
“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,” the minister said.
Pate said public health teams were working to identify additional people who might have been exposed, while the private hospital where the patient received treatment was being supported to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, FCT Health Secretariat, World Health Organisation and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention were coordinating the response.
The minister urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, maintain a high index of suspicion and promptly identify, isolate and report suspected cases to public health authorities.
He advised Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola or contaminated materials.
Pate said people should watch for symptoms including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly following possible exposure or travel-related contact with an infected person.
He urged anyone contacted by public health teams to provide the required information and comply with official health advice.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, warning against rumours, misinformation and stigmatisation of people who might have been exposed.
“We advise everyone to remain calm, but vigilant. There is no need for panic,” he said.
Pate recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, saying the country had the experience, public health infrastructure and trained personnel required to respond effectively to the latest case.
*FG intensifies surveillance, isolation measures to curb spread
He said authorities were drawing on those lessons, alongside support from international partners, while the incident management system had been activated to coordinate surveillance and other response measures.
Pate disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been constituted in May 2026, adding that the early preparations reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening the country’s readiness to respond to the threat.
He said accurate and timely updates would continue as investigations progressed, while urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from health authorities rather than unverified social media reports.
The NCDC toll-free call centre, he said, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 6232 for information or to report suspected cases.
Authorities said the immediate priority was to strengthen infection prevention measures and prevent the imported case from developing into wider community transmission.
