The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in Abuja, prompting intensified surveillance and contact-tracing efforts to prevent further transmission.

Nigeria has confirmed a new case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as health authorities move to contain the infection and monitor people who may have been exposed.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman with a recent travel history involving Uganda.

According to the ministry, the patient was admitted to a private health facility in Abuja after developing symptoms. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

Authorities Identify 44 Contacts

The government said public health teams had identified 44 close contacts linked to the confirmed case. These include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.

Contact tracing and monitoring are ongoing, while surveillance has been intensified to identify additional people who may have come into contact with the patient.

The Federal Government has also directed public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain vigilant, promptly isolate suspected cases and report them to public health authorities.

Source of Infection Under Investigation

The patient reportedly travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and transited through Uganda. However, health authorities have not established the exact location where she contracted the infection.

The World Health Organization confirmed that Nigeria is the fifth country to detect the Bundibugyo virus since the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026.

What Nigerians Should Know

Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials.

Health authorities advise the public to maintain good hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.

The confirmation of this case does not mean that widespread transmission has been established in Nigeria. Authorities are relying on isolation, surveillance and contact tracing to limit the risk of further spread.

Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, and the government says public health agencies are mobilising to respond to the current case.

Source: Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; World Health Organization (WHO).

Utelnova will continue to monitor official updates on the Ebola situation in Nigeria.