The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following the identification of 44 contacts for monitoring and further investigation.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the infected woman recently returned to Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms on October 7, 2026.

According to Pate, the woman sought treatment at a private hospital in Abuja on October 11, but her condition subsequently worsened, prompting further tests that confirmed the infection on October 20.

The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health authorities intensify contact tracing to prevent further transmission.

“Contact tracing has been conducted, and it’s underway as we speak, with 44 contacts already identified,” the minister said.

He explained that the contacts include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and individuals who may have travelled with the patient.

Pate urged anyone contacted by public health officials, including passengers who may have travelled with the woman, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health instructions.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the FCT Health Secretariat, the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are collaborating to contain the infection.

The minister also urged public and private health facilities nationwide to remain vigilant, promptly isolate suspected cases and report them to the appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, the Africa CDC has called for urgent international support to contain the wider regional outbreak, which it said has affected multiple countries across three African regions.

In a statement titled “Ebola in Nigeria: An Urgent Call for Global Solidarity,” Africa CDC Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, said the organisation had been monitoring the regional implications of the outbreak since it was declared on May 15, 2026.

Kaseya warned that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remained particularly serious, with the mortality rate approaching 50 per cent. He added that the organisation was mobilising support for Nigeria while strengthening its response in the DRC and Kenya and maintaining heightened vigilance in Uganda.

He called for immediate funding, medical supplies, diagnostic capacity, trained responders and stronger community-based surveillance to prevent further spread.

Ebola virus disease is a severe illness that spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people who have developed symptoms, as well as contaminated materials and infected animals.

Symptoms typically appear between two and 21 days after exposure and may include fever, severe headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Some patients may also experience bleeding.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and cooperate with contact-tracing teams.

Pate recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of an Ebola outbreak in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s public health expertise and response systems.

He also disclosed that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease had been constituted in May 2026 as part of the government’s preparedness efforts.

Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report suspected cases can contact the NCDC’s toll-free line on 6232, which the minister said operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Federal Government said investigations and contact tracing were continuing, with further updates expected as more information becomes available.