Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following the detection of the virus in a woman who recently travelled from Uganda.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the patient developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria. She sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11, and laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of infection and trace her travel and exposure history.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has identified 44 contacts who are being monitored as health authorities intensify efforts to identify others who may have been exposed to the virus. Infection prevention and control measures have also been strengthened at the facility where the patient received treatment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate the national response, with support from WHO and other partners. Response measures include contact tracing, case investigation, infection prevention and control, and the provision of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for health workers.
Nigeria is the fifth country to detect the virus since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, 2026. Kenya has also reported nine cases linked to an imported infection in recent weeks, according to WHO.
The international health agency has urged countries across the region to strengthen disease surveillance, maintain laboratory testing capacity, prepare rapid-response teams, and reinforce infection prevention measures in public and private health facilities.
WHO also emphasised the importance of monitoring at points of entry and engaging communities to support early detection and prevent further transmission.
The agency advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries, noting that it continues to monitor developments and reassess the public health risk as the outbreak evolves.
