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| File Photo: First case of an imported Ebola infection in Abuja |
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing technical assistance and protective supplies to Nigeria as health authorities investigate an imported Ebola infection in Abuja and monitor people who may have encountered the patient.
In its statement on the Nigerian case, WHO said its support covers investigation, contact tracing and measures to prevent infections in healthcare settings. The assistance includes personal protective equipment for health workers.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the diagnosis on Tuesday, 20 October. The patient, a woman who recently travelled from Uganda on an international flight, is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
WHO’s account places the onset of her symptoms on 7 October, four days after she arrived in Nigeria. She sought care at the private facility on 11 October, and laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus on 20 October.
Investigators are reconstructing her movements and possible exposures to establish where and how she acquired the infection. Her recent travel history remains part of that investigation.
Authorities had identified 44 contacts when they announced the case. Those undergoing monitoring include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people associated with the woman’s journey. Public health teams are continuing to look for others who may require follow-up.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate response activities. The health ministry is also working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other partners, while the hospital reinforces infection prevention procedures.
Federal authorities have asked public and private hospitals nationwide to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe infection control precautions and report concerns to public health officials.
According to WHO’s explanation of Ebola transmission, infection can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of someone who is ill, or through contaminated materials. People do not transmit the disease before developing symptoms.
Bundibugyo virus causes a form of Ebola disease that can be fatal. WHO’s current vaccine guidance states that no licensed vaccine specifically protects against Bundibugyo virus disease, although researchers are evaluating potential vaccines.
WHO described Nigeria as the fifth country to detect the virus since the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared its outbreak on 15 May 2026.
An 8 October WHO situation report recorded 8,728 confirmed infections and 4,205 deaths in the DRC as of 6 October. The cases covered 64 health zones across seven provinces, with transmission continuing in several areas.
Kenya announced its first imported case on 6 October after a patient travelled from the DRC through Uganda. By 20 October, WHO reported that Kenya’s total had reached nine cases linked to the imported infection.
Uganda had previously recorded 20 confirmed cases during its Bundibugyo outbreak. WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced its end on 27 August, following 42 days without another confirmed case after the last patient left care.
As the regional response continues, WHO has urged governments to maintain surveillance, investigate alerts quickly and ensure laboratories can safely examine samples from suspected cases.
Its recommendations also cover keeping clinical and rapid-response teams available, stocking essential supplies, strengthening precautions in public and private hospitals, and involving communities in response activities. The agency called for closer monitoring at entry points while maintaining its advice against travel and trade restrictions on affected countries.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. A published outbreak investigation documented 19 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case, including eight deaths.
WHO declared that outbreak over on 20 October 2014, following 42 days without a new case. The federal government has cited that response experience while asking the public to cooperate with the current investigation.
The government said the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and NCDC would provide further updates. People seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case can call 6232, the NCDC’s toll-free number, which operates throughout the day and night.