The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said 44 close contacts had been identified as authorities began contact tracing.
The infected woman recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda and is receiving treatment in isolation.
The Federal Government has confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja, raising concerns about the spread of the disease after a woman who recently arrived from Uganda tested positive for the virus.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation. He said health authorities had identified 44 close contacts and begun tracing people who may have been exposed to the infected woman.
According to reports, the woman was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT on October 11 after developing symptoms several days earlier. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
FG begins contact tracing after Ebola case
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating efforts to contain the infection.
The authorities are tracing people who may have had contact with the woman, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Speaking on the response, Pate said:“We are doing everything possible to contain this case by tracing all the contacts the individual may have had.”
The minister’s remarks were reported by the Associated Press as authorities worked to prevent further transmission of the disease.
The government has also intensified surveillance and is supporting the hospital where the woman received treatment to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
FG issues directive to hospitals, advises Nigerians
Following the confirmation of the Ebola case in Abuja, the government has directed public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain on high alert.
Healthcare workers have been advised to identify and isolate suspected cases promptly, observe infection prevention measures and report suspected infections to public health authorities without delay.
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm while observing preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
The government also advised people contacted by public health teams during the tracing exercise to cooperate and provide the information required.
How Nigeria prepared for possible Ebola outbreak
The confirmation follows an October 6 advisory by the NCDC, which warned about the risk of Ebola entering Nigeria after an imported case was reported in Kenya amid an outbreak linked to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller brought the disease into Nigeria.
Meanwhile, An asthmatic woman was seen struggling to breathe as police fired tear gas at the #EndSARS memorial at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
Newsflash reported that the incident happened as Nigerians gathered to commemorate six years since the October 2020 protests against police brutality.
The video of the woman has sparked reactions on social media, with some Nigerians discussing the risks of tear gas exposure for people with asthma.
A video of an asthmatic woman has surfaced online as she was seen struggling to breathe as police officers fired tear gas at Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos for the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.
The incident, captured in a trending video on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, has sparked reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing concern over the woman’s condition and criticising the disruption of the memorial gathering
The gathering was organised to honour victims of the October 2020 protests against police brutality. Participants had assembled at the toll gate for a memorial, including a planned wreath-laying ceremony, before police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Click here to read in full.
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