The Federal Government and state governments have intensified measures to prevent the spread of Ebola following reports that a diplomat diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in Abuja has developed multiple organ failure.
The identity and nationality of the patient have not been disclosed.
The Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Olajumoke Babatunde, disclosed the development during an emergency meeting of the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.
Babatunde confirmed that laboratory tests identified the infection as the Bundibugyo strain, which is also responsible for the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
She explained that three levels of molecular testing had been conducted to establish the strain.
“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” Babatunde revealed.
The Bundibugyo virus is a rare member of the Ebola virus group, first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007.
The disease can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
However, it is not ordinarily transmitted through casual contact with someone who is not showing symptoms.
The development has prompted several states to strengthen their emergency response systems, intensify surveillance and trace people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Anambra State disclosed that it had monitored 40 persons of interest, with 33 completing their observation period and being cleared, while seven remained under active monitoring as of October 20.
Niger State has activated its emergency response operations and placed its healthcare system on high alert.
The state also said preparations were underway to complete an isolation centre.
In Ogun State, authorities have been monitoring 111 persons of interest.
The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first reported Ebola case on Tuesday after a woman who arrived on an international flight from Uganda was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory for several days before the infection was established.
Following the confirmation, the NCDC activated its incident management response, focusing on case management, contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, infection prevention and control, and public communication.
FG, Uganda collaborate on containment
The Federal Government on Wednesday assured Nigerians that efforts were underway to contain the infection, warning citizens against unnecessary panic and the spread of misinformation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the assurance while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Pate said Nigeria was collaborating with Uganda, which is also battling an Ebola outbreak, while health authorities worked to identify and monitor people who might have come into contact with the infected diplomat.
He told our correspondent, “All I can tell you is that we are collaborating with our sister African nation of Uganda.
“What is important is that we have found this one case.
“We are doing contact tracing, and we are putting containment measures to ensure that it doesn’t go into our population.”
The minister said Nigeria had the institutional capacity and experience required to manage the situation, recalling the country’s successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
“The Federal Government has competent authorities to deal with this. We have done it in 2014, and we have good public health institutions. Nigerians should be reassured.
“We must be vigilant, but not panic. People should respect public health information from trusted sources and not spread misinformation and false rumours,” Pate added.
He promised that the government would provide regular updates as more information became available.
“We will be truthful to Nigerians with the information that we receive on a daily basis. If the situation changes, we will come out and inform Nigerians,” he affirmed.
Pate said the NCDC’s incident management system was operating round the clock, while the Presidential Task Force on Ebola remained active.
He noted that Nigeria had gone five months into the regional outbreak without recording a case before the imported infection was detected.
He said, “It’s one case. It’s an imported case, and we are containing it.”
The minister also confirmed that a review of Nigeria’s Ebola response arrangements was ongoing following President Bola Tinubu’s directive at a National Security Council meeting on October 15.
He said coordination between the Office of the National Security Adviser, public health authorities and the presidential task force had strengthened the country’s preparedness.
“That has been ongoing. The truth of the matter is that we have a very good response coordination mechanism with the office of the NSA with the public health measures with the task force, and that has served us well.
“In fact, we’re a large country, and I just travel a lot. And we have one case, and even that one case coming from outside our country, and we’ve been able to detect it and report it and be able to take effort to contain it,” said the Minister.
Pate said another government meeting would be held on Thursday to assess the situation.
He expressed concern over what he described as excessive public attention surrounding the case, arguing that effective containment required discipline and cooperation from citizens.
He maintained that although the government had the necessary resources and institutional support, individuals who disregarded isolation instructions could undermine the response.
The World Health Organisation has identified the infection as the Bundibugyo strain.
The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 16.
Figures cited by Newsweek from the WHO showed that the DRC had recorded 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths as of October 11.
The WHO says there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease. Kenya also confirmed an imported case this month, according to Al Jazeera.
On June 9, Tinubu established a presidential task force chaired by Gbajabiamila and approved N10bn for emergency preparedness.
The measures include tighter airport screening, QR-code health declarations for passengers arriving from high-risk countries and plans for isolation facilities at the Lagos and Abuja airports.
At the task force’s inauguration on June 18, Gbajabiamila said Nigeria had not recorded any Ebola case at the time and stressed the need to prevent a repeat of the circumstances surrounding the country’s previous outbreak.
NCDC finalises national response plan
The NCDC said it held its first incident management meeting on Wednesday to coordinate the national response following the confirmation of the infection in Abuja.
In a statement published on its X account, the agency said it was finalising its incident action plan while response teams continued case management and other emergency operations.
“The Incident Action Plan is being finalised today; NCDC teams are on the ground conducting case management and response activities, prioritising enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and coordinated risk communication,” the agency said.
It reaffirmed its commitment to a coordinated, evidence-based response to protect public health.
The confirmed case has prompted health authorities nationwide to intensify surveillance, identify potential contacts, assess healthcare facilities and educate residents on Ebola symptoms and transmission.
Authorities are particularly concerned about tracing people who may have interacted with the infected woman following her arrival from Uganda.
Health officials have stressed that being identified as a contact or a person of interest does not mean an individual has contracted Ebola.
Such individuals are monitored because of possible exposure, with their health status assessed through established public health procedures.
Keyamo places 46 contacts on no-fly list
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to place 46 people linked to the Abuja Ebola case on a no-fly list for 21 days.
Keyamo announced the directive on Wednesday following a virtual meeting with Pate to discuss measures for containing the disease.
He said the affected individuals comprised 44 people who had contact with the patient at a hospital after she developed symptoms and two members of her domestic staff.
According to the minister, arrangements were being made to isolate the contacts until authorities could establish that they had not been infected.
He said, “Whilst efforts are ongoing to isolate them for now until there is certainty they have not been infected with the virus, the Aviation authorities are required to put them on a no-fly list for at least 21 days.”
Keyamo explained that the restriction reflected the period within which Ebola symptoms would generally be expected to appear.
He directed the NCAA to immediately inform domestic and international airlines to prevent the listed individuals from travelling by air during the monitoring period.
The minister also instructed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to reinforce Ebola surveillance and response measures at all international airports.
The measures include intensified health screening, temperature checks, verification of travel histories, digital health declarations and closer collaboration with the NCDC.
The restrictions are intended to limit the risk of further transmission while health authorities monitor people who may have been exposed.
FAAN installs temperature-screening cameras
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has begun installing temperature-screening cameras at airports as part of efforts to identify passengers who may require additional medical assessment.
A senior FAAN official said passengers flagged by the cameras would undergo further screening, while suspected cases would be isolated for evaluation.
The authority is also distributing hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment to frontline personnel.
According to the NCDC, the infected woman arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private hospital in Abuja on October 11.
Her travel history and failure to respond to malaria treatment reportedly prompted medical personnel to alert health authorities.
The Incident Manager of the National Ebola Disease Response, Dr. Odianosen Ehiakhamen, said 44 contacts had been identified, mostly healthcare workers and support staff at the hospital where the patient received treatment.
“For the 44 contacts, they are majorly healthcare workers and support staff of the hospital, because everything has happened within the hospital,” he said.
Ehiakhamen added that Nigeria had strengthened its preparedness since May through risk assessments, improved surveillance, personnel training and infection prevention measures.
The WHO has also urged countries in the region to maintain heightened vigilance to support early detection and prevent further transmission.
Senate calls for mandatory screening at entry points
The Senate has urged the Federal Government to introduce mandatory health screening for passengers entering Nigeria through international airports, seaports and designated land borders.
The lawmakers also called for emergency funding to strengthen disease surveillance, equip Port Health Services and prepare treatment and isolation facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Ondo South Senator Francis Faduyile, who warned that the NCDC had assessed the risk of importing Ebola into Nigeria as high.
Faduyile recalled the 2014 outbreak, which resulted in 20 confirmed and probable cases and eight deaths, stressing the importance of early detection, contact tracing and coordinated emergency measures.
The Senate proposed health declaration forms, temperature checks and symptom screening for all international arrivals, with more intensive screening for travellers who had visited or transited through affected areas within the preceding 21 days.
It also called for exit screening during declared public health emergencies.
The lawmakers urged relevant agencies to provide trained health personnel, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation facilities at the country’s entry points.
They further called for an update of the Quarantine Act of 1976 to reflect contemporary public health challenges and international standards.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Adamu Aliero said the health ministry had already begun implementing several of the proposed measures but warned against complacency.
“Virtually all the prayers that have been canvassed, the ministry has started doing them,” he said.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno also advocated an amendment to the law, saying there was a need “to bring it in tandem with existing realities.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged government agencies to act swiftly and proactively.
“We have to be proactive; everybody must take part. If it spreads, it will be a major problem,” he said.
The Senate directed its committees on Health, Primary Healthcare, Disease Control, Aviation, Interior and Appropriations to inspect major entry points, consult relevant agencies and submit their findings within four weeks.
The Committee on Legislative Compliance was also tasked with monitoring the implementation of the resolutions.
The lawmakers urged Nigerians to maintain proper hand hygiene in public places, institutions and event centres.
Reps demand release of outstanding health funds
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to strengthen Ebola prevention and emergency medical measures and release outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Presenting the motion, Ogah described Ebola as a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease that requires prompt detection, effective infection prevention and coordinated public health intervention.
“It is extremely disturbing that yesterday, October 20, 2026, an Ebola Virus case was confirmed in a woman arriving from Uganda in Abuja who tested positive. Health authorities traced 44 contacts for isolation and further tests,” he said.
Ogah warned that delays in identifying suspected cases, conducting laboratory tests, isolating infected people and tracing their contacts could increase the risk of transmission and place additional pressure on the healthcare system.
He also raised concerns about inadequate public awareness, shortages of infection prevention supplies, gaps in healthcare workers’ preparedness and limited emergency response capacity.
The House called for the mobilisation of public and private health institutions and directed relevant agencies to remain on high alert.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to release outstanding funds to enable health authorities to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and other emergency interventions.
The lawmakers also asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to assess additional funding requirements based on current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.
The House Committee on Infectious Diseases was mandated to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and health institutions, obtain updates on the situation and report back for further legislative action.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government said no Ebola case had been recorded in the state as of October 21.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said 111 persons of interest had been monitored and discharged after completing the required surveillance period.
She urged residents to remain calm, rely on official information and promptly report suspected exposure.
The United States Mission in Nigeria also advised travellers to monitor their health for 21 days after visiting areas affected by Ebola and seek medical guidance if symptoms developed.
While several states have announced preparedness measures, residents of Delta State are still awaiting details of the steps being taken by their government to prevent a possible outbreak.
The United States government has also issued a health alert to its citizens following Nigeria’s confirmation of the case, advising those who may have been exposed to monitor their health and seek medical advice if symptoms appear.
Yobe establishes surveillance teams across 17 LGAs
The Yobe State Government said it had established surveillance teams, isolation arrangements and contact-tracing mechanisms across all 17 local government areas to prevent the virus from spreading into the state.
The Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Nuru Sulaiman Muhammad, told The PUNCH that surveillance had been intensified following the confirmation of the Abuja case.
“We are aware of the case of a woman who travelled to Uganda and contracted the virus. She was confirmed after she returned to the FCT. After that, the public health team swung into action, and 44 contacts have been identified,” he said.
Muhammad said health personnel had been deployed to investigate potential exposure, strengthen disease surveillance and ensure the early detection of suspected cases.
“We have already established a team of health personnel to ensure that Ebola does not spread across the state. We have established different teams across all the local government areas of the state,” he said.
He explained that trained contact tracers would investigate suspected exposure and visit affected communities, with security personnel assisting access to areas affected by insecurity.
“If there is anything that poses a public health threat, we conduct contact tracing. We recruit and train contact tracers, and they go around every community that is affected,” he said.
He added, “Even if there is a security threat, we go to hard-to-reach areas with security personnel to facilitate entry into such communities.”
The director said isolation centres were available in Bade, Potiskum and Damaturu, providing coverage across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Surveillance is also being strengthened at land border crossings in collaboration with relevant health personnel.
The state has distributed infection prevention and control materials, including hand sanitisers, while public enlightenment campaigns are being conducted to educate residents about the disease.
Muhammad said a meeting scheduled for Thursday would review the state’s preparedness and identify additional measures required to strengthen its response.
Ekiti strengthens preparedness and stocks protective equipment
The Ekiti State Government has stepped up preparations through laboratory training, surveillance, public awareness campaigns and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment.
In an advisory dated October 20, the government said the measures followed alerts from the NCDC and reports of Ebola cases in the region.
Laboratory personnel have been trained in sample collection, handling and transportation, while surveillance teams have received training in disease detection, emergency response and active case searches.
The state has also established an Ebola Virus Disease Technical Working Group, conducted simulation exercises at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti and trained healthcare workers in case management and infection prevention.
Airport officials and environmental health officers have been trained to screen passengers, while a burial team has received instruction in safe and dignified burial procedures.
The government said it had distributed public awareness materials, broadcast radio jingles and engaged community leaders, religious organisations, traditional rulers and the media to promote awareness and encourage the reporting of suspected cases.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases.
People who believe they may have been exposed were advised to report promptly, even if they felt well.
Those experiencing symptoms were urged to contact public health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility.
The state government also encouraged residents to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and avoid spreading rumours or stigmatising people who might have been exposed.
It cited Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 as evidence of the importance of early detection and a coordinated public health response.
Enugu, Kano reactivate emergency centres
The Enugu State Government has reactivated and strengthened its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre following confirmation of the Ebola case in Abuja.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said surveillance had been intensified across the state’s 17 local government areas, alongside improved coordination with relevant agencies and partners.
He said monitoring activities around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport were being reinforced in collaboration with Port Health Services and other stakeholders.
“Let me begin by reassuring the people of Enugu State that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu State. However, following the recent confirmation of a case in Abuja and the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, it is important that we remain vigilant and adequately prepared,” he said.
Ugwu said rapid response teams and technical personnel had been placed on standby, while public awareness and risk communication efforts were being expanded.
He urged public and private healthcare facilities to remain alert for possible cases, promptly isolate suspected patients and notify the appropriate surveillance officers.
In Kano State, the Centre for Disease Control has also reactivated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and placed it on high alert.
The centre’s Director-General, Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said in a statement on Wednesday that the state was prepared to respond to any potential threat.
“The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre is fully ready and on high alert. There is no need to panic, but we must all be careful and act quickly,” the statement said.
Residents were advised to report suspected cases through the centre’s emergency telephone number, 07077974504, its email address, [email protected], or the nearest local government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer or health facility.
As federal and state authorities intensify containment efforts, health officials continue to stress the importance of early detection, cooperation with contact-tracing teams and adherence to public health guidance to prevent further transmission.
