BREAKING: FG Confirms First Ebola Case in Abuja, Tracks 44 Close Contacts

The Federal Government has confirmed a case of the Ebola virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), putting health authorities on high alert to contain any potential outbreak.

The confirmation was announced on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in an official statement issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, following laboratory verification.

According to the Minister, epidemiological surveillance teams have immediately initiated aggressive contact tracing measures, identifying approximately 44 close contacts linked to the index patient to prevent community transmission.

The patient reportedly arrived in the FCT from an affected region, prompting swift isolation protocol implementation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Department of Public Health.

According to Prof. Pate, “Authorities have started contact tracing, and about 44 close contacts have been identified as part of measures to stop further transmission.”

Health facilities across the nation’s capital and surrounding states have been directed to heighten surveillance, activate isolation facilities, and enforce strict infection control measures.