The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at an emergency press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, October 21, 2026.
According to him, the case is the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus and was imported by a traveler who arrived from Uganda. Laboratory confirmation was obtained on October 20.
Pate said the patient is currently in isolation at a designated treatment centre and is receiving care, while 44 close contacts have been identified and placed under monitoring.
The government said it has activated all public health response mechanisms, including:
- Heightened surveillance at all entry points
- Deployment of emergency response teams in the FCT
- Contact tracing and risk communication
The Minister assured Nigerians that there is no cause for panic, noting that Nigeria has the capacity to contain the virus as it did in 2014.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on June 9, 2026, approved N10 billion as emergency intervention funding for public health preparedness, which is now being deployed.
Citizens are advised to observe hygiene, avoid contact with symptomatic persons, and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility or call NCDC toll-free line 6232.
This is the first reported Ebola case in Nigeria since the 2014 outbreak.