Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in its capital, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, involving a woman who arrived from Uganda, according to the Health Ministry. Health Minister Muhammad Pate stated that authorities have identified 44 contacts associated with the patient and are working to trace them to prevent further transmission. The patient began showing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11.
The case marks the arrival of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain in Nigeria during an outbreak that health officials describe as the most geographically extensive in history. The outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May and has since reached Kenya, which has recorded nine infections. While Uganda was declared Ebola-free in late August after 42 days without a case, the Nigerian patient's travel history has led to questions regarding that status.
Nigeria established an Ebola task force in June following the initial reports from Congo. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently increased surveillance, focusing on early detection and the protection of health care workers. During the 2014-2016 West African epidemic, Nigeria recorded 20 cases before the virus was contained in the country after three months.
The Bundibugyo strain involved in this outbreak has a fatality rate of nearly 50%, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control. The current outbreak has infected more than 9,000 people and killed more than 4,300 across three regions of Africa since May. While Ebola does not spread as easily as respiratory viruses like the flu, its presence in a major capital city through air travel highlights the risk of transmission between urban centers.
Health officials are monitoring the 44 contacts for symptoms to determine if there has been secondary spread within Abuja. The 21-day incubation period for the virus continues.