Nigeria reports first Ebola case in a decade in woman who arrived from Uganda

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1. 3h ago

   Nigeria Confirms First Ebola Case in a Decade

   Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in approximately a decade after a woman arriving from Uganda tested positive in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The patient is a foreign woman living in the capital who arrived via Addis Ababa on October 5. Health authorities and regional bodies are responding to the importation, which marks the first time the virus has been detected in Nigeria since 2014. Authorities have initiated contact tracing, identifying dozens of contacts including an Uber driver, while state health agencies like Ogun stepped up surveillance and tracked travelers.

   Why it matters

   The case is linked to an ongoing outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease that was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, 2026. The outbreak has since spread across multiple African countries, prompting international travel precautions such as upcoming US travel attestations and an Africa CDC crisis summit. Nigeria previously managed a major Ebola outbreak in 2014 before being declared virus-free.

   What is confirmed

   • Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in a patient who arrived from Uganda.
   • The case involves the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease strain.
   • The patient is a woman who tested positive in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
   • The patient arrived in Nigeria via Addis Ababa on October 5.
   • This is Nigeria's first Ebola case in about a decade, following the 2014 outbreak.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The infection source is disputed.
   • Some individuals threatened to leave quarantine.

   What to watch next

   • Results of expanded contact tracing and monitoring of identified contacts such as the Uber driver and travelers in Ogun state
   • Outcomes and resolutions from the Africa CDC Ebola crisis summit
   • Implementation and impact of international travel restrictions, including US Ebola travel declarations scheduled for November 3
   Sources used for this update (22)

   1. Reuters — Nigeria confirms Ebola case in patient who arrived from Uganda
   2. NPR — Nigeria confirms an Ebola case in Abuja as a woman arriving from Uganda tests positive
   3. AP News — Nigeria records first Ebola case, health authorities say
   4. The Guardian — Nigeria confirms Ebola case as outbreak spreads into western Africa
   5. WHO | Regional Office for Africa — Nigeria confirms imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease
   6. WRAL — Ebola has spread from Congo to 4 other countries. A look at where things stand
   7. Reuters — Nigeria reports Ebola case, fourth African country affected by outbreak
   8. The Seattle Times — Africa CDC calls Ebola crisis summit as Nigeria records first case
   9. Medical Xpress — Africa CDC calls an Ebola crisis summit as Nigeria records its first case
   10. Premium Times Nigeria — UPDATED: Nigeria confirms Ebola case in Abuja, begins contact tracing
   11. Punch Newspapers — Ebola: Ogun steps up surveillance, traces 111 travellers after Abuja case
   12. Vanguard News — Nigeria confirms first Ebola case is Bundibugyo strain
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