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Nigerian health authorities activated emergency response measures after laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola in a woman living in Abuja who arrived from Uganda earlier this month. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate stated the patient is in isolation and receiving quality medical care at a private facility. The confirmation marks Nigeria’s first reported Ebola infection since the 2014 outbreak that the country successfully contained according to multiple health reports.
According to assistant director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Odianosen Ehiakhamen the woman arrived in Nigeria on October 5 and began experiencing symptoms on October 7. She sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11 presenting malaria-like symptoms before Ebola testing was conducted on October 19 with positive results confirmed the following day. Contact tracing efforts have identified 44 close contacts the majority of whom are healthcare workers along with the patient’s husband a Swiss national residing in the capital. Officials are also tracing passengers from her flights though they believe she was not symptomatic during travel.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has disputed that the infection occurred within its borders issuing a statement that travel through the country does not establish the location of exposure. Preliminary information from Ugandan officials indicates the woman had traveled to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for business prior to transiting Uganda in early October without displaying symptoms. The ministry emphasized that Uganda currently has no confirmed active Ebola cases and is awaiting further details from Nigerian authorities on the patient’s full itinerary.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak on record with more than 9,000 cases and over 4,000 deaths reported so far according to Ugandan health ministry figures. This Nigerian case represents the fifth country affected since the outbreak was declared in the DRC on May 15 2026 following detections in Uganda and Kenya among others. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya called for urgent action and political leadership at the highest level in response to the regional spread. The World Health Organization is supporting Nigeria with case investigation and infection control measures.
Nigeria’s experience with Ebola during the 2014 West African epidemic where it limited transmission to 20 cases through rapid response has informed current preparedness according to health officials. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has ramped up surveillance infection prevention measures at the treatment facility and monitoring of all identified contacts. Public health teams are also tracing additional potential exposures including fellow passengers on the patient’s flights.
Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate told public broadcaster NTA that the case is contained and urged the public to remain calm while practicing hygiene measures. In a related development the World Health Organization is collaborating with Nigerian authorities on case investigation contact tracing and supply provision to safeguard health workers. The WHO noted that investigations continue to establish the precise source of the woman’s infection and reconstruct her complete travel history.
