By Saminu Ibrahim
Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising concerns over the potential spread of the infection as health authorities intensify surveillance and containment measures.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed the case on Tuesday, October 20, stating that the patient is a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda.
Nigeria is the fifth country to detect the virus since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 15, 2026.
According to the ministry, the woman’s symptoms began on October 7, four days after her arrival in Nigeria. She subsequently sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11, while laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.
The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while investigations are ongoing to determine the likely source of infection and establish her full travel and exposure history.
The ministry disclosed that 44 contacts had been identified and were being monitored as health officials intensified efforts to trace other individuals who might have been exposed to the virus.
It added that infection prevention and control measures were being strengthened at the private health facility where the patient initially sought treatment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate the national response and support efforts to prevent further transmission.
Health authorities say the rapid identification of suspected cases, timely contact tracing and strict infection prevention and control measures are critical to containing the disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), alongside its partners, is supporting Nigerian health authorities through case investigations, contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, and the provision of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for health workers.
The global health body has urged countries across the region to maintain heightened preparedness as the outbreak in the DRC continues to evolve.
It noted that Kenya had reported nine cases linked to an imported infection in recent weeks, underscoring the need for countries to strengthen surveillance and emergency response systems.
WHO advised countries to ensure that laboratories can safely test suspected cases, maintain rapid response and clinical teams ready for immediate deployment, and reinforce infection prevention measures in both public and private health facilities.
It also called for the pre-positioning of essential medical supplies, active community engagement and increased monitoring at points of entry, supported by effective response plans.
According to the organisation, sustained preparedness remains essential to detecting cases early, preventing further transmission and protecting health workers and communities.
However, WHO advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries, adding that it would continue to monitor and, where necessary, verify measures introduced in response to the outbreak.
The organisation said its risk assessment was being regularly reviewed to reflect the latest developments.
