Ebola Scare in Abuja: FG Launches Contact Tracing as 44 Close Contacts Are Identified

The Federal Government has reportedly launched a contact-tracing exercise in the Federal Capital Territory following the identification of a suspected imported Ebola case, with 44 close contacts said to have been identified.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, was quoted as announcing the development in a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, following a reported laboratory confirmation on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

The statement identified the patient as a woman who recently travelled to Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

She was reportedly treated at a private hospital in the FCT for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently said to be isolated and receiving medical attention.

Pate said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies were working together to prevent further transmission.

According to him, public health teams had commenced contact tracing to locate and monitor people who might have been exposed to the virus.

The individuals being monitored reportedly include healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and people who may have encountered the woman during her journey to Nigeria.

Authorities have also stepped up surveillance and are supporting the private hospital where the patient was treated to improve infection prevention and control measures.

The minister called on people contacted by public health teams, including relevant airline passengers, to cooperate fully with the investigation, provide accurate information and follow official health instructions.

He urged healthcare facilities nationwide, both public and private, to remain vigilant and report suspected Ebola infections without delay.

Healthcare workers were also advised to identify and isolate suspected cases promptly while maintaining strict infection prevention and control practices.

As investigations continue, the government urged Nigerians to remain calm, wash their hands regularly and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

The symptoms highlighted in the statement include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, especially in people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Pate stressed that anyone who suspects exposure should contact public health authorities immediately, regardless of whether symptoms have developed.

People who develop symptoms were advised to avoid close contact with others and seek instructions from public health authorities by phone before visiting a hospital or other healthcare facility.

The minister also cautioned against misinformation and stigmatisation, urging the public to obtain updates from verified government and public health sources.

He said the Federal Government, FCT authorities and their partners were continuing efforts to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider population, while investigations into the reported case remained ongoing.

For enquiries or to report a suspected case, members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which the statement said operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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