Ebola Fears: FG, States on Alert as Infected Diplomat Suffers Organ Failure, now at Death’s Gate

A diplomat diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus in Abuja has reportedly developed multi-organ failure, prompting the Federal Government and state governments to intensify surveillance, contact tracing and emergency preparedness to prevent further spread of the disease.

The identity and nationality of the patient have not been disclosed.

The Director of Public Health Laboratory Services at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Olajumoke Babatunde, provided the update during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Babatunde confirmed that laboratory investigations identified the Bundibugyo strain, the same strain associated with the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She said three levels of molecular testing were conducted to confirm the infection.

“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” she said.

The Bundibugyo virus is a rare member of the Ebola virus group. It was first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007. Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials. It is not ordinarily transmitted through casual contact with someone who is not showing symptoms.

The development comes as state governments step up preparations against a possible spread of the disease. Anambra State said it had monitored 40 persons of interest, with 33 completing their monitoring period and being cleared, while seven remained under active follow-up as of October 20, 2026.

Niger State has placed its health system on high alert, activated emergency operations and said it was completing an isolation centre, while Ogun State is tracing 111 persons of interest.

The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first reported Ebola case in Abuja on Tuesday after a woman who had recently arrived from Uganda was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, where she reportedly spent several days before the infection was confirmed.

Following the confirmation, the NCDC activated an incident management response covering case management, enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and public risk communication.

FG, Uganda Collaborate

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it was working to contain the Ebola case, urging Nigerians not to give in to panic or spread misinformation.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the assurance while speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Pate said Nigeria was collaborating with Uganda, which is also battling an outbreak, while contact tracing and other containment measures were underway.

“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 said Nigeria had the experience and public health institutions required to manage the situation, recalling the country’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

“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 added.

He promised that the government would provide regular updates as more information became available.

“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 said.

Pate said the NCDC’s incident management system was operating round the clock, adding that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola was also active.

He noted that Nigeria had gone five months without a reported case despite the outbreak elsewhere, describing the Abuja case as imported and saying efforts were underway to contain it.

“It’s one case. It’s an imported case, and we are containing it,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed a review of Nigeria’s response plan during a National Security Council meeting on October 15.

Pate said coordination between the Office of the National Security Adviser, public health agencies and the task force had strengthened the country’s response.

“That has been ongoing. The truth of the matter is that we have a very good response coordination mechanism with the office of the NSA, with the public health measures and with the task force, and that has served us well,” he said.

He added that the government would meet again on Thursday to review developments.

Pate cautioned against excessive public anxiety, saying effective containment required discipline, coordinated action and cooperation from residents.

He said authorities could not fully control the actions of people who had been advised to isolate themselves but ignored the directive and visited public places.

“That is not in the government’s hands,” he said.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, were also seen leaving the meeting.

The World Health Organisation identified the virus as the Bundibugyo strain. The organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 16.

According to WHO figures cited by Newsweek, the DRC had recorded 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths as of October 11. Kenya also confirmed an imported case this month, according to Al Jazeera.

The WHO has stated that there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease.

On June 9, President Tinubu established a task force chaired by Gbajabiamila and approved ₦10bn for emergency preparedness.

Measures outlined by the task force include enhanced airport screening, QR-code health declarations for passengers arriving from high-risk countries, and isolation facilities at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

At the task force’s inauguration on June 18, Gbajabiamila said Nigeria had no confirmed cases at the time and stressed the need to prevent a repeat of the 2014 outbreak, when an infected traveller brought the virus into the country.

NCDC Finalises Response Plan

The NCDC said it held its first incident management meeting on Wednesday to coordinate the national response following the confirmation of the Abuja case.

In a statement posted on its X account, the agency said it was finalising its incident action plan, while response teams were already involved in case management and other emergency activities.

“The Incident Action Plan is being finalised today; NCDC teams are on the ground conducting case management and response activities, prioritising enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and coordinated risk communication,” the agency said.

It added that it remained committed to a timely, coordinated and evidence-based response to protect Nigerians.

The confirmation has prompted health authorities to intensify surveillance and contact tracing, while states review their preparedness, identify facilities for managing suspected cases and educate residents about the symptoms and transmission of the disease.

Authorities have stressed that identifying people as contacts or persons of interest does not mean they are infected. Such individuals are monitored because of possible exposure, with further assessments determining whether infection has occurred.

Keyamo Orders Restriction

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to place 46 people linked to the reported Ebola case on a no-fly list for 21 days.

Keyamo disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday after a virtual meeting with Pate on measures to contain the outbreak.

He said the list comprised 44 people who had contact with the patient at a hospital after she developed symptoms, as well as two domestic staff members.

According to the minister, efforts were underway to isolate the contacts until authorities could establish that they had not been infected.

“Whilst efforts are ongoing to isolate them for now until there is certainty they have not been infected with the virus, the aviation authorities are required to put them on a no-fly list for at least 21 days,” he said.

Keyamo explained that the restriction corresponded with the period within which symptoms of the disease could manifest.

He directed the NCAA to notify local and international airlines immediately to prevent the listed individuals from travelling by air during the period.

The minister also instructed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen Ebola surveillance and response measures at all international airports.

The measures include enhanced health screening, temperature checks, travel history tracking, digital health declarations and closer coordination with the NCDC.

Keyamo said the steps followed regional outbreak alerts and were intended to strengthen surveillance and response at the country’s airports.

Airports Deploy Cameras

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has begun installing temperature-screening cameras at airports to identify passengers with elevated body temperatures following the confirmation of the imported Ebola case in Abuja.

A senior FAAN official said passengers flagged by the cameras would undergo further medical screening, while suspected cases would be isolated for assessment.

The authority is also providing hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment for frontline workers.

The NCDC said the infected woman arrived from Uganda on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital in Abuja on October 11. Her travel history and failure to respond to malaria treatment reportedly prompted doctors to alert health authorities.

The incident manager of the National Ebola Disease Response, Dr Odianosen Ehiakhamen, said 44 contacts, mainly healthcare workers and hospital support staff, had been identified for monitoring.

“For the 44 contacts, they are majorly healthcare workers and support staff of the hospital, because everything has happened within the hospital,” he said.

Ehiakhamen added that Nigeria had strengthened its preparedness since May through risk assessments, surveillance, staff training and infection prevention measures.

The WHO has urged countries in the region to maintain heightened vigilance to ensure early detection and prevent further transmission.

Senate Demands Action

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to introduce mandatory health screening for passengers arriving in Nigeria through international airports, seaports and designated land borders.

The lawmakers also called for emergency funding to strengthen disease surveillance, equip Port Health Services and prepare treatment and isolation centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Ondo South Senator Francis Faduyile, who warned that the NCDC had rated the risk of importing Ebola into Nigeria as high.

Faduyile recalled the 2014 outbreak, which recorded 20 confirmed and probable cases and eight deaths, stressing the importance of early detection, contact tracing and coordinated response measures.

The Senate proposed health declaration forms, temperature checks and symptom screening for international arrivals, with enhanced checks for travellers who had visited or transited affected areas within the previous 21 days. It also called for exit screening during declared public health emergencies.

The lawmakers urged relevant agencies to provide trained health personnel, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation facilities at entry points.

They also called for the modernisation of the Quarantine Act of 1976 to reflect current public health realities and international standards.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Adamu Aliero said the Ministry of Health had already begun implementing several of the proposed measures but warned against complacency.

“Virtually all the prayers that have been canvassed, the ministry has started doing them,” he said.

Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno called for an amendment to the Quarantine Act, saying there was a need “to bring it in tandem with existing realities.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged relevant agencies to act proactively, describing Ebola as a serious medical emergency.

“We have to be proactive; everybody must take part. If it spreads, it will be a major problem,” he said.

The Senate directed its committees on Health, Primary Healthcare, Disease Control, Aviation, Interior and Appropriations to inspect major entry points, engage relevant agencies and report back within four weeks. The Committee on Legislative Compliance was also asked to monitor implementation.

The lawmakers urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and maintain proper hand hygiene in public places, institutions and event centres.

Reps React

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to strengthen preventive and emergency medical measures against Ebola and immediately release outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Presenting the motion, Ogah described Ebola as a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease that requires prompt detection, effective infection prevention and coordinated public health intervention.

“It is extremely disturbing that yesterday, October 20, 2026, an Ebola Virus case was confirmed in a woman arriving from Uganda in Abuja who tested positive. Health authorities traced 44 contacts for isolation and further tests,” he said.

He warned that delays in identifying suspected cases, conducting laboratory investigations, isolating infected persons and tracing contacts could increase the risk of transmission and place additional pressure on the healthcare system.

The lawmaker also expressed concern about inadequate public awareness, shortages of infection prevention supplies, gaps in healthcare workers’ preparedness and limited emergency response capacity.

The House called on the Federal Government to mobilise public and private health institutions and place relevant agencies on high alert.

It urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to release outstanding appropriated funds to enable health agencies to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and other emergency interventions.

The lawmakers further asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to assess the additional funding required to strengthen the country’s response in line with current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.

The House mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and public health institutions to obtain updates on the outbreak and report back for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government said no Ebola case had been recorded in the state as of October 21, 2026. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said 111 persons of interest had been monitored and discharged after completing the required surveillance period.

She urged residents to remain calm, rely on official information and promptly report possible exposure.

The US Mission in Nigeria also advised travellers to monitor their health for 21 days after visiting areas affected by Ebola and seek medical guidance if symptoms developed.

While several states outlined their preparedness plans, residents of Delta State were still awaiting details of the measures being taken by their government to guard against a possible spread of the disease.

The United States government also issued a health alert to its citizens following Nigeria’s confirmation of the case, advising those who might have been exposed to monitor their health and seek medical guidance if symptoms developed.

Yobe Establishes Teams

The Yobe State Government said it had established surveillance teams, isolation arrangements and contact-tracing mechanisms across all 17 local government areas to prevent the disease from spreading into the state.

The Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Nuru Sulaiman Muhammad, told The PUNCH that health officials had intensified surveillance following the confirmation of the Abuja case.

“We are aware of the case of a woman who travelled to Uganda and contracted the virus. She was confirmed after she returned to the FCT. After that, the public health team swung into action, and 44 contacts have been identified,” he said.

Muhammad said the state had deployed health personnel to strengthen disease surveillance, investigate potential exposure and ensure early detection of any suspected case.

“We have already established a team of health personnel to ensure that Ebola does not spread across the state. We have established different teams across all the local government areas of the state,” he said.

He said trained contact tracers would investigate reports of possible exposure and visit affected communities, with security personnel assisting them in accessing hard-to-reach areas affected by insecurity.

“If there is anything that poses a public health threat, we conduct contact tracing. We recruit and train contact tracers, and they go around every community that is affected,” he said.

He added, “Even if there is a security threat, we go to hard-to-reach areas with security personnel to facilitate entry into such communities.”

According to the director, isolation centres were available in Bade, Potiskum and Damaturu, covering the state’s three senatorial districts.

He said surveillance was also being strengthened at land border crossings in collaboration with relevant health personnel.

The state had distributed infection prevention and control materials, including hand sanitisers, and was engaging communities through public enlightenment campaigns.

Muhammad said a meeting had been scheduled for Thursday to review preparedness and strengthen the state’s response.

Ekiti Stockpiles Equipment

The Ekiti State Government has intensified Ebola preparedness through laboratory training, surveillance activities, public awareness campaigns and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment.

In an advisory dated October 20, the government said the measures followed alerts from the NCDC and reports of Ebola cases in the region.

The state has trained laboratory personnel in sample collection, handling and transportation, while surveillance teams have received training in disease detection, response and active case searches.

It has also inaugurated an Ebola Virus Disease Technical Working Group, conducted simulation exercises at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, and trained healthcare workers in case management and infection prevention.

Airport officials and environmental health officers have been trained to screen passengers, while a burial team has received training in safe and dignified burial procedures.

The government said it had distributed public awareness materials, aired radio jingles and engaged community leaders, religious organisations, traditional rulers and the media to promote awareness and reporting of suspected cases.

It urged residents to remain vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases.

Residents who suspect exposure were advised to report promptly, even if they felt well, while those with symptoms should contact public health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility.

The government also urged the public to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and avoid spreading rumours or stigmatising potentially exposed persons. It cited Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 as evidence of the importance of early detection and a coordinated response.

States on Alert

The Enugu State Government has reactivated and strengthened its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre following the confirmation of the Abuja case.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, said the state had intensified surveillance across its 17 local government areas and strengthened coordination with relevant agencies and partners.

He said surveillance activities around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport were being reinforced in collaboration with Port Health Services and other stakeholders.

“Let me begin by reassuring the people of Enugu State that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu State. However, following the recent confirmation of a case in Abuja and the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, it is important that we remain vigilant and adequately prepared,” he said.

Ugwu said rapid response teams and technical personnel had been placed on standby, while public awareness and risk communication activities were being strengthened.

He urged public and private health facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases and notify the appropriate surveillance officers.

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control also reactivated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and placed it on high alert.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, its Director-General, Prof Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said the state was prepared to respond to any potential threat.

“The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre is fully ready and on high alert. There is no need to panic, but we must all be careful and act quickly,” the statement said.

The centre advised residents to report suspected cases through its emergency contact number, 07077974504, its email address, kanocdc@gmail.com, or the nearest local government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer or health facility.