Nigeria confirms first imported Ebola Bundibugyo case, 44 contacts under monitoring

Nigeria has reported it's first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), prompting health authorities to identify 44 people who may have come into contact with the infected patient.The contacts are being monitored, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).Nigeria is the fifth country to report the virus since the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak on May 15, 2026, the WHO said in a press release.Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the infected patient is a woman who travelled to the country from Uganda. She developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria, and visited a private healthcare facility in Abuja on October 11.Her infection was confirmed through laboratory testing on October 20. She has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care.Nigeria steps up measures to contain infectionThe Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its incident management system to oversee and coordinate the response, according to the WHO.The UN health agency and its partners are assisting Nigerian authorities with investigations, contact tracing and measures to prevent further infections. The support also includes the provision of essential equipment and supplies, such as personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.With the outbreak in the DRC continuing to evolve, the WHO has called on countries across the region to remain alert and strengthen their preparedness.The WHO has urged countries to improve disease surveillance systems and ensure laboratories are equipped to test suspected cases safely. It has also called for rapid-response and clinical teams to be maintained, infection prevention protocols to be strengthened in both public and private healthcare facilities, and essential medical supplies to be readily available.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.