Nigeria is on excessive alert after the federal authorities confirmed one case of Ebola illness in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
The affected person, a lady who just lately arrived in Nigeria on a global flight from Uganda, is presently in isolation and receiving medical care at a non-public hospital in the FCT, in keeping with a press release signed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate.
Contact tracing has commenced, with 44 shut contacts recognized up to now, in keeping with the assertion. The contacts embrace healthcare staff, sufferers, caregivers, and journey contacts, whereas public well being groups determine and monitor individuals who might have been uncovered.
“The FG calls on all public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to be on high alert. Healthcare workers must maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities,” it famous.
Public urged to remain alert
The assertion urged Nigerians to stay calm and vigilant, advising folks to keep up hand hygiene and keep away from direct contact with the blood or different bodily fluids of individuals suspected to have Ebola.
Symptoms to observe for embrace extreme weak spot, headache, vomiting, and diarrhoea, significantly amongst individuals who might have been uncovered.
“Report any possible exposure immediately, even if you feel well. If you develop symptoms, avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” it famous.
The authorities additionally urged folks contacted in the course of the tracing train, together with doubtlessly uncovered airline passengers, to offer the required data and adjust to public well being directions.
Ebola spreads by means of direct contact with the blood or different bodily fluids of an contaminated particular person, or by means of contaminated supplies.
Nigeria had raised surveillance
The affirmation comes weeks after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) raised the nation’s preparedness stage following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a 22 September advisory, the agency said travellers from international locations with energetic or related Ebola transmission may very well be required to finish a Health Declaration Form as a part of enhanced surveillance and follow-up measures. The kind captures journey historical past, international locations visited in the earlier 21 days and well being data.
It is just not but clear whether or not the Health Declaration Form or different entry-point surveillance measures helped determine the girl now receiving remedy in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Ebola expertise
Nigeria recorded an outbreak in 2014 after an contaminated traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. WHO later declared Nigeria freed from Ebola transmission on 20 October 2014, after 42 days with out a new case.
WHO data present that Nigeria’s 2014 response concerned fast case detection, isolation and in depth contact tracing. Nineteen confirmed instances and one possible case have been recorded, with eight deaths.
“Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014, and we have the experience and public health systems to respond to this case. However, containing Ebola requires everyone to play their part,” the federal authorities famous.
“The federal government, FCT authorities and other partners are working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public. Investigations are ongoing, and we will continue to provide accurate and timely information.”
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The authorities mentioned investigations are ongoing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and NCDC will proceed to offer updates.
It added that “NCDC free call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information or to report a suspected case, please call NCDC toll-free number 6232.”
Regional outbreak continues
The Nigerian case comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, the place the illness has unfold throughout a number of provinces.
WHO reported greater than 8,700 confirmed instances and greater than 4,200 deaths in the DRC as of 6 October, with transmission persevering with throughout dozens of well being zones. The outbreak is attributable to the Bundibugyo virus.
Kenya reported its first imported case on 6 October: a Kenyan citizen who had been residing in the DRC and travelled to Kenya by way of Uganda.
On 20 October, Kenyan authorities confirmed a ninth case involving an in depth member of the family of the primary affected person.
Uganda, from which the Nigerian affected person just lately travelled, recorded 20 instances between May and June 2026. The nation subsequently ended its outbreak after finishing the required 42-day interval with out a new confirmed case.
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