WHO pledges support as Nigeria records first imported Ebola case

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged to support Nigeria’s efforts to contain Ebola following the confirmation of the country’s first imported case of the disease.

In a statement published on its website, the global health agency said it was working with Nigerian health authorities and partners to strengthen response measures, including case investigation, contact tracing and infection prevention and control.

WHO said the support also includes essential supplies, such as personal protective equipment for health workers.

The development comes as Nigeria becomes the fifth country to detect Ebola in connection with an outbreak declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 15 May.

The Nigerian government confirmed that a woman who recently travelled from Uganda on an international flight had tested positive for the disease. She is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the woman had no symptoms during her journey but became ill after arriving in Nigeria.

Mr Pate said officials had identified 44 contacts, who were undergoing quarantine measures.

Strengthening surveillance

WHO said sustained preparedness and strengthened surveillance at points of entry were essential to detecting cases early, preventing further transmission and protecting healthcare workers and communities.

It urged countries in the region to remain prepared as the outbreak in the DRC continues to evolve.

The agency called on governments to maintain disease surveillance systems, promptly investigate alerts, and ensure laboratories can safely test suspected cases. It also urged countries to keep rapid-response and clinical teams ready for deployment, strengthen infection prevention measures in public and private health facilities, and ensure essential supplies were available.

WHO further stressed the importance of engaging communities in response efforts.

Despite the outbreak, the agency advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries.

Nigeria’s response

Nigerian health authorities have begun implementing measures to limit further transmission.

The private health facility where the patient sought care is strengthening infection prevention and control measures. At the same time, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate the response.

Health authorities are also working with the aviation sector to obtain passenger manifests and identify people who may have been exposed during the patient’s journey.

In its statement confirming the case, the federal government said it was working with FCT authorities and other partners to protect healthcare workers, patients, and the public.

The government cited Nigeria’s experience in containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak, while stressing that public cooperation remained essential to preventing further transmission.

It said investigations were continuing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC would provide further updates.

Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were advised to contact the NCDC’s toll-free line, 6232, which the government said operates round the clock.

Ebola is a severe infectious disease that can cause serious illness and death. Early detection, appropriate clinical care and effective public health measures are critical to improving patient outcomes and limiting transmission.

Nigeria’s previous outbreak

Nigeria’s first Ebola outbreak began in 2014 after an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. Authorities responded through case detection, isolation and extensive contact tracing.

The country recorded 19 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case, with eight deaths.

WHO subsequently declared Nigeria free of Ebola transmission on 20 October 2014, after 42 days without a new case.

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Regional outbreak continues

Nigeria’s imported case comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus that causes severe illness in humans. No licensed vaccine is currently approved specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease.

WHO reported more than 8,700 confirmed cases and more than 4,200 deaths in the DRC as of 6 October, with transmission continuing across several health zones.

Kenya reported its first imported case on 6 October, involving a citizen who had lived in the DRC and travelled to Kenya via Uganda.

On 20 October, Kenyan authorities confirmed a ninth case involving a close family member of the first patient.

Uganda, where the Nigerian patient had recently travelled from, recorded 20 cases between May and June 2026. The country subsequently declared its outbreak over after completing the required 42-day period without a new confirmed case.