Nigeria Confirms First Abuja Ebola Case, Launches Contact Tracing

Nigeria’s federal government confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday and activated its emergency public health response. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the case is imported and that authorities are containing it.

The government identified 44 close contacts and began contact tracing while isolating the patient and intensifying surveillance. The Presidential Task Force on Ebola said Nigeria is collaborating with Uganda to contain any outbreak.

“It is one case. It is an imported case, and we are containing it.”

The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria expressed concern over the case but commended the prompt contact tracing, patient isolation, and intensified surveillance. It recommended immediate nationwide implementation of high-alert protocols based on measures used during Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola response and its 2020 COVID-19 response.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 4,605 people have died in the ongoing Central and East Africa Ebola outbreak as of October 20, 2026. The CDC recorded 9,582 confirmed cases across affected countries, with one death in Kenya and two in Uganda.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre, recording thousands of cases and deaths as health authorities intensify containment efforts.

Pate urged Nigerians to remain vigilant but not panic, respect public health information from trusted sources, and avoid spreading misinformation. He said the NCDC operates an incident management system and that the government will inform the public if the situation changes.

The Academy also urged Nigerians to avoid handshakes and unnecessary physical contact.