morGANABLE news/Public Health
Ebola is a highly infectious disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person.
KaNo —
The Federal Government and state governments have intensified surveillance, contact tracing and emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja, as the infected patient reportedly deteriorated into multi-organ failure.
The patient, identified as a diplomat whose name and nationality have not been disclosed, was diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus after undergoing several laboratory tests at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the NCDC, Olajumoke Babatunde, disclosed the development during an emergency meeting of the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.
Babatunde confirmed that three levels of molecular testing were conducted to establish the strain responsible for the infection, adding that the patient’s health had worsened considerably.
“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” she said.
The Bundibugyo strain is a rare species of Ebola virus first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007. The strain has also been linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person.
Health authorities have repeatedly emphasised that the disease does not ordinarily spread through casual contact with individuals who are not displaying symptoms.
The Federal Government confirmed the country’s first case of the latest outbreak on Tuesday after a woman who recently arrived from Uganda through an international flight was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
The patient reportedly spent several days receiving treatment before laboratory investigations confirmed the infection, raising concerns about possible exposure among healthcare workers and other individuals who encountered her.
Following the confirmation, the NCDC activated its incident management response, bringing together public health officials responsible for surveillance, laboratory investigations, contact tracing, case management and infection prevention.
The agency is also strengthening public communication to ensure that Nigerians receive accurate information about the disease and necessary preventive measures.
Meanwhile, several state governments have heightened their preparedness to prevent the virus from spreading beyond Abuja.
In Anambra State, health authorities disclosed that 40 persons of interest had been placed under monitoring, with 33 completing their observation period and subsequently cleared.
The state said seven others remained under active follow-up as of October 20, 2026.
Similarly, the Niger State Government placed its healthcare system on high alert, activated emergency response operations and commenced efforts to complete an isolation centre for suspected cases.
Ogun State also disclosed that health officials were tracing 111 persons of interest as part of precautionary measures aimed at preventing possible community transmission.
Speaking with State House correspondents on Wednesday evening after meeting the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, urged Nigerians to remain calm.
Pate maintained that the Federal Government had activated the necessary containment measures and was collaborating with Ugandan authorities to establish relevant information about the imported infection.
He said the government was determined to prevent the virus from spreading into the wider population.
“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,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence in Nigeria’s public health institutions, recalling the country’s successful response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
According to him, the experience gained during previous outbreaks has strengthened the country’s capacity to detect, investigate and respond to infectious disease emergencies.
“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 stated.
He assured Nigerians that the government would provide regular updates as investigations and containment efforts progressed.
“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 added.
Pate disclosed that the NCDC’s incident management system was operating around the clock, while the Presidential Task Force on Ebola had also been activated to coordinate the national response.
He maintained that the outbreak had continued for five months without Nigeria recording a case until the imported infection was detected.
“It’s one case. It’s an imported case, and we are containing it,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that President Bola Tinubu had directed a review of Nigeria’s Ebola response plan during the National Security Council meeting held on October 15.
Responding to questions about the directive, Pate explained that the review was already underway, with relevant agencies coordinating their activities through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He said the existing coordination framework had strengthened the country’s ability to respond promptly to emerging public health threats.
The minister also disclosed that the government would hold another meeting on Thursday to review developments and assess the effectiveness of ongoing interventions.
Pate, however, expressed concern over misinformation surrounding the confirmed case, warning that unnecessary panic could undermine public confidence in the response.
He stressed that successful containment would require cooperation from citizens, particularly individuals directed by health authorities to undergo isolation or monitoring.
According to him, government resources and institutional preparedness alone would not guarantee success without public compliance with established health protocols.
He said the administration had the necessary presidential backing, resources and inter-agency coordination mechanisms to manage the situation.
The minister nevertheless acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing isolation when individuals exposed to the disease disregard instructions and continue visiting public places.
He therefore urged Nigerians to cooperate with health officials, follow verified public health guidance and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports as authorities intensify efforts to contain the infection.
