The Federal Government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in Abuja, with health authorities identifying 44 contacts for monitoring as efforts to contain the infection intensify.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the infected woman recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda.
According to the minister, the patient developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private hospital in Abuja on October 11. Further tests confirmed the infection on October 20, 2026, after her condition worsened.
Pate said the woman was currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health officials continued contact tracing to identify and monitor people who might have been exposed to the virus.
The 44 contacts identified include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who might have travelled with the patient.
The minister urged anyone contacted by public health officials to provide the necessary information and comply with medical advice.
He added that the private hospital where the woman was treated was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
Pate also urged public and private health facilities across the country to remain vigilant, promptly isolate suspected cases and report them to the appropriate authorities.
The development comes amid a wider Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while reports available on Tuesday indicated that Kenya had recorded nine confirmed cases.
The situation has heightened concerns about cross-border transmission and the need for coordinated public health responses.
