Nigeria Confirms First Bundibugyo Ebola Case in West Africa

Nigeria has confirmed a case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in a woman who recently arrived from Uganda, making the country the first in West Africa to report an infection linked to the current outbreak. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the laboratory-confirmed case on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after the patient received treatment at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The woman remains in isolation and is receiving medical care, according to Health Minister Ali Pate. Authorities have identified 44 close contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people connected to the woman's travel.

Public health teams are working to locate and monitor additional people who may have been exposed. The Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and FCT health authorities have increased surveillance and are helping the hospital strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

The federal government has also directed healthcare facilities nationwide to remain alert, isolate suspected cases promptly and report them to public health authorities. Nigerian authorities have continued issuing travel-related health guidance as the outbreak spreads across several countries.

Pate urged the public to remain composed while cooperating with health officials.

"Stay calm, stay vigilant and cooperate with public health authorities." said Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

The confirmed Nigerian case comes as the outbreak continues to affect countries in East and Central Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains the epicenter, with health authorities reporting more than 9,400 cases and over 4,500 deaths by mid-October. The outbreak has spread across eight provinces, complicating efforts to control transmission.

Kenya had reported nine infections as of Tuesday, according to its health ministry. On Monday, the US State Department advised Americans to reconsider travel to Kenya because of health risks, raising the country's travel advisory to Level 3 without imposing a travel ban.

Uganda, which previously reported cases linked to the outbreak, declared itself free of the disease in August after discharging its last patient in July. In Somalia, authorities are investigating one suspected case in Mogadishu. The individual remains in quarantine and is in stable condition while laboratory testing is conducted.

The United Nations has described the Bundibugyo outbreak in the DRC as the country's deadliest among its 17 recorded outbreaks. UN experts have also characterized it as the fastest-growing outbreak on record in terms of new infections.

Ebola is a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by viruses that can circulate among animals, including fruit bats. Human outbreaks can begin through contact with infected animals, while person-to-person transmission occurs through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood or vomit.

Symptoms generally develop between two and 21 days after exposure. Early signs include sudden fever, muscle and joint pain, severe headache, weakness, fatigue, sore throat and loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, patients may experience vomiting, diarrhea, organ failure and, in some cases, internal or external bleeding.

Health authorities recommend frequent handwashing with soap and water, cleaning surfaces with chlorinated water, avoiding direct contact with infected people and staying away from bodies of people who have died from the disease. They also advise against handling or eating potentially infected wild animals.

A vaccine is available for the Zaire strain of Ebola, which has caused previous outbreaks in the DRC, but no approved vaccine is currently available for the Sudan strain. Early treatment of specific symptoms can improve survival, while medical teams must use appropriate personal protective equipment when treating patients and handling bodies.

The World Health Organization has warned that new Ebola outbreaks can occur in the DRC because the virus persists in animal reservoirs. Nigeria's health authorities continue monitoring potential exposures and advising travelers from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission to complete health declaration forms and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop.