The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and commenced contact tracing to prevent further transmission of the virus.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the infection.

According to the statement, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the Ebola diagnosis was confirmed.

The ministry said the woman had been placed in isolation and was receiving medical care.

As part of the government’s containment efforts, public health authorities have identified 44 close contacts and commenced tracing to determine whether they may have been exposed to the virus.

The authorities are also working to identify and monitor additional potential contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and individuals who may have had contact with the patient during her journey.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating the response in collaboration with other relevant authorities.

The government has also intensified disease surveillance and provided immediate support to the hospital where the patient was treated to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

The measures, according to the ministry, are aimed at containing the infection, limiting potential exposure and preventing further spread of the disease.

Health authorities are continuing contact tracing and surveillance as part of ongoing efforts to protect public health and contain the confirmed case.