New Ebola Case Confirmed in Abuja: Nigeria Initiates Urgent Contact Tracing

Nigeria has initiated rapid contact tracing after confirming a new case of the Ebola virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20, 2026. The patient, a woman who recently arrived on a flight from Uganda, is currently isolated and receiving treatment at a private hospital in Abuja.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate confirmed that health authorities are monitoring 44 identified close contacts, including fellow airline passengers, caregivers, and medical staff.

Public Health Directives

The federal government has mandated all healthcare facilities nationwide to implement strict infection prevention protocols and immediately isolate any suspected cases. The public is advised to remain calm, maintain strict hand hygiene, and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of suspected patients.

Watch for the following symptoms, especially if exposed:

 Severe weakness

 Headache

 Vomiting

 Diarrhea

Anyone suspecting exposure or experiencing symptoms must isolate immediately and call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) toll-free at 6232 for guidance before visiting a hospital. Passengers contacted during the tracing exercise are urged to comply fully with health instructions.

Regional and Historical Context

This confirmation follows weeks of heightened surveillance by the NCDC in response to a major ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of October 6, the DRC has recorded over 8,700 cases and 4,200 deaths. The regional outbreak recently spread to Kenya, which has confirmed nine cases. The Nigerian patient's origin point, Uganda, experienced a 20-case outbreak between May and June 2026 before officially declaring it over.

Health officials remain confident in their containment capabilities, drawing on Nigeria's successful eradication of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which ended with 19 confirmed cases and eight deaths after a traveler arrived from Liberia. Investigations remain ongoing under the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.