By Rotimi Odofin
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola illness in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following laboratory affirmation on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and has activated emergency public well being measures to stop additional transmission.
The affected person, a lady who just lately arrived in Nigeria on a global flight from Uganda, was admitted to a personal hospital in the FCT, the place she obtained therapy for a number of days earlier than the analysis was confirmed. She is presently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The Coordinating Minister of (*44*) and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a press assertion, noting that the Federal Ministry of (*44*) and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT (*44*) Services Secretariat and different related authorities had been working collectively to include the an infection.
According to the assertion, contact tracing has commenced, with 44 shut contacts recognized thus far. The contacts embody healthcare staff, sufferers, caregivers and journey contacts who might have been uncovered to the an infection.
Public well being surveillance has additionally been intensified, whereas the hospital the place the affected person was handled is receiving fast help to strengthen an infection prevention and management measures.
The Federal Government has directed private and non-private healthcare amenities nationwide to stay on excessive alert, urging healthcare staff to keep up a excessive index of suspicion, promptly establish and isolate suspected circumstances, observe strict an infection prevention and management protocols, and instantly report suspected circumstances to the suitable public well being authorities.
The authorities defined that Ebola spreads by direct contact with the blood or different physique fluids of an contaminated one that is sick or has died from the illness, as properly as by contact with contaminated supplies.
It burdened that an contaminated individual can’t transmit the illness earlier than signs start.
Nigerians have consequently been suggested to stay calm however vigilant, practise common hand hygiene, keep away from contact with the physique fluids of anybody suspected of getting Ebola, and look ahead to signs such as fever, extreme weak point, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, notably following attainable publicity.
The authorities additional suggested anybody who suspects publicity to report instantly to public well being authorities, even in the absence of signs. Persons who develop signs have been urged to keep away from shut contact with others and search steering from public well being authorities by phone earlier than visiting a healthcare facility.
Relevant airline passengers and different individuals contacted through the tracing train have additionally been urged to cooperate with public well being groups, present the mandatory data and adjust to official steering.
The assertion cautioned towards the unfold of rumours and the stigmatisation of affected individuals, urging Nigerians to rely completely on verified data from official well being authorities.
Reassuring the general public, the Federal Government recalled Nigeria’s profitable containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, noting that the nation has related expertise and public well being methods to reply to the present case.
However, it emphasised that stopping additional transmission would require early detection, immediate reporting and the cooperation of members of the general public.
The authorities mentioned investigations had been persevering with and promised to supply correct and well timed updates by the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the NCDC.
Members of the general public looking for data or wishing to report a suspected case can contact the NCDC’s toll-free name centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days every week.
The assertion was signed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of (*44*) and Social Welfare.
