The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), triggering an emergency public health response, including contact tracing and intensified disease surveillance.

The government disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.

According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.

The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) are working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.

The government said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far.

Public health teams are identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital where the patient received treatment is being supported to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

The Federal Government has directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, urging healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, and report them immediately to public health authorities.

The statement emphasised that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease, as well as contact with contaminated materials.

It added that people infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.

Nigerians were advised to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola, and watch for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure.

The government urged anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to report immediately, even if they feel well.

People who develop symptoms were advised to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.

Relevant airline passengers and other individuals contacted during the tracing exercise were also urged to provide the necessary information and comply with public health instructions.

The government cautioned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected individuals, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.

Reassuring the public, Pate said Nigeria had successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had the experience and public health systems needed to respond to the current case.

However, he stressed that preventing further transmission would require early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation from the public.

The government said investigations were ongoing and pledged to provide accurate and timely updates through the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.

For information or to report a suspected case, Nigerians can call the NCDC toll-free contact centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.