The Federal Government and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have issued public health advisories following Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging Nigerians to observe preventive measures and report suspected infections promptly.
According to official statements, the patient is a woman who arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and developed symptoms after arrival. She was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja and subsequently tested positive for Ebola, with laboratory confirmation recorded on October 20, 2026.
The patient has been isolated and is receiving medical care, while health authorities have identified 44 close contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts, for monitoring.
Surveillance has been intensified, and the hospital treating the patient is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The confirmed case involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has been linked to a multi-country outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nigeria’s last Ebola outbreak occurred in 2014, when health authorities successfully contained the disease.
How Ebola Spreads and Symptoms to Look Out For
In its advisory, the NOA said Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contaminated materials.
The agency stressed that infected individuals do not transmit the virus before symptoms appear.
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Anyone who develops these symptoms after a possible exposure should promptly seek guidance from public health authorities.
Early reporting is essential to help health officials identify potential cases, trace contacts and prevent further transmission.
Preventive Measures Nigerians Should Observe
The NOA urged Nigerians to maintain regular hand hygiene, practise good personal hygiene and avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Members of the public who believe they may have been exposed should report the exposure immediately, even if they feel well, and follow instructions from public health authorities.
Anyone who develops symptoms should contact health authorities before visiting a hospital, avoid close contact with others and follow the guidance provided by health officials.
The agency also called on Nigerians to cooperate with contact-tracing teams, avoid spreading unverified information and refrain from stigmatising people who may have been exposed, patients or their families.
It emphasised that public cooperation and access to accurate information are critical to containing the infection.
Hospitals Urged to Strengthen Surveillance
The Federal Government and the NOA have urged public and private healthcare facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola and promptly identify and isolate suspected cases.
Healthcare providers have also been advised to observe strict infection prevention and control protocols and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.
The measures are intended to support early detection and reduce the risk of transmission within healthcare facilities and the wider community.
NCDC Opens Toll-Free Line for Ebola Reports
Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case can contact the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) through its toll-free helpline, 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The NOA and Federal Government have urged Nigerians to remain calm, follow official health guidance and report potential exposures promptly.
