21.10.2026 00:11
Nigeria's first Ebola case has been detected. Health Minister Muhammad Pate, announcing that the virus was confirmed in a woman who returned to the capital Abuja after traveling to Uganda, reported that the patient had been isolated and treatment started. Authorities taking action to prevent the spread of the virus placed 44 people identified as having been in contact with the patient under monitoring, while inspections at the country's entry points were increased.
The Nigerian government reported that the first Ebola virus case has been detected in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the capital Abuja is located.
44 MORE CONTACTS IDENTIFIED Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate stated at a press conference held in the capital Abuja that laboratory tests confirmed an Ebola virus case in the country.
Pate said that the female patient, who had a history of travel to East Africa, particularly Uganda, returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, the symptoms progressed four days later, and after tests, the Ebola virus infection was confirmed in the woman.
Muhammad Pate Noting that the patient is currently in isolation and receiving treatment, Pate said contact tracing efforts have been initiated and 44 contacts have been identified so far.
Pate, who reported that the Ministry of Health, the FCT Health Secretariat, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and other partners are working in coordination to prevent the spread of the virus, emphasized that surveillance and inspections at the country's entry points have also been increased.
While calling on health institutions to be on high alert for possible cases, Pate also asked Nigerians to remain calm and cautious.
WARNING AGAINST SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FEVER, WEAKNESS, HEADACHE AND DIARRHEA Advising the public to follow hygiene rules, be careful about symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache and diarrhea, and cooperate with public health authorities, Pate noted that the government is drawing on its experience in combating the 2014 Ebola outbreak and on public health mechanisms developed over the years.
Pate stated that contacts are being kept under follow-up and surveillance, and that the government will inform the public regularly and transparently about its efforts to bring the outbreak under control.