The federal authorities has confirmed a case of Ebola illness within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), involving a lady who lately arrived in Nigeria on a world flight from (*44*).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in an announcement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory affirmation of the case.
According to the assertion, the affected person was admitted to a non-public hospital within the FCT, the place she obtained remedy for a number of days earlier than the prognosis was confirmed. She is presently in isolation and receiving medical care.
Pate, stated contact tracing had commenced, with 44 shut contacts recognized up to now, whereas public well being groups had been working to determine and monitor different doubtlessly uncovered individuals, together with healthcare staff, sufferers, caregivers and journey contacts.
He stated the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and different related authorities had been working collectively to include the an infection and forestall additional unfold.
He added that surveillance had been intensified, whereas the hospital the place the affected person obtained remedy was receiving instant assist to strengthen an infection prevention and management measures.
The minister urged private and non-private healthcare amenities nationwide to stay on excessive alert, advising healthcare staff to keep up a excessive index of suspicion, promptly determine and isolate suspected instances, observe strict an infection prevention and management measures, and instantly report suspected instances to public well being authorities.
The minister defined that Ebola spreads by way of direct contact with the blood or physique fluids of an contaminated one who is sick or has died from the illness, in addition to contact with contaminated supplies.
He burdened that an contaminated particular person can not transmit the illness earlier than signs start.
He suggested Nigerians to practise common hand hygiene, keep away from contact with the physique fluids of anybody suspected to have Ebola, and look ahead to signs akin to fever, extreme weak spot, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, notably following potential publicity.
He additionally urged anybody who may need been uncovered to report instantly, even when they felt effectively, whereas those that develop signs ought to keep away from shut contact with others and call public well being authorities for steerage earlier than visiting a healthcare facility.
Pate referred to as on members of the general public to cooperate with contact tracing groups, together with related airline passengers who could be contacted, and keep away from spreading unverified data or stigmatising doubtlessly uncovered individuals.
He stated Nigeria had efficiently contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had the expertise and public well being programs wanted to reply to the newest case.
However, he emphasised that stopping additional transmission would require early detection, immediate reporting and cooperation from the general public.
The minister stated the federal government, FCT authorities and different companions would proceed to offer updates by way of the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.
He suggested Nigerians in search of data or wishing to report suspected instances to name the NCDC’s toll-free quantity, 6232, which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
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