Ebola Confirmed in Abuja — FG Traces 44 Contacts as Uganda Denies Having Active Case

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Ugandan government has clarified that it has no confirmed active Ebola case following Nigeria’s announcement that a woman who recently arrived from Uganda tested positive for the deadly viral disease.

Nigeria’s Federal Government confirmed the case on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after laboratory tests returned positive for a female patient receiving treatment at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the patient had travelled to Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and had received medical care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.

According to the minister, the patient has been isolated and is receiving treatment, while investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the infection and identify individuals who may have been exposed.

The announcement raised concerns about the possible introduction of Ebola into Nigeria, recalling the 2014 outbreak in which Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer brought the virus to Lagos, triggering an outbreak that claimed eight lives in the country.

However, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has clarified that the patient is Nigerian and had travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) for business before transiting through Uganda in early October.

Charles Olaro, Uganda’s Director-General of Health Services, said the woman did not exhibit symptoms while in Uganda but developed them after arriving in Nigeria.

The Ugandan government stressed that travelling through its territory did not establish that the infection originated there.

“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry said.

It added that Nigeria had yet to provide detailed information about the woman’s travel itinerary and clinical history to guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.

Uganda also confirmed that it had no active Ebola cases at the time of its statement, while announcing plans to strengthen screening and public health controls at its points of entry.

Following the confirmation, Nigeria’s Federal Government urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected Ebola cases to the appropriate public health authorities.

The government directed healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, isolate suspected patients without delay and strictly observe infection prevention and control procedures.

Investigations are expected to establish the patient’s movements, determine where exposure may have occurred and identify people who may have had contact with her.

The development places renewed attention on Nigeria’s disease surveillance systems, particularly at international airports, hospitals and other entry points where early detection is essential to preventing further transmission.

Given Nigeria’s large population and extensive international travel connections, health authorities face the task of ensuring that suspected cases are identified quickly and that any potential spread is contained.

However, the confirmation of one case does not, by itself, establish that a wider outbreak is occurring in Nigeria.