Nigeria Confirms New Ebola Case, Tracing 44 Contacts

On October 20, 2026, Nigeria confirmed a new Ebola case in a woman who arrived from Uganda, marking a significant health concern as it coincided with the date the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria free of Ebola in 2014. The federal government has begun contact tracing, identifying 44 close contacts.

Following an emergency meeting, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola, acknowledged the role of surveillance in early detection, noting that approximately 44,000 flights had operated since the task force's inception in June. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated that the incident management system was activated in collaboration with the WHO and other health organizations.

However, it was noted that the patient showed no symptoms upon arrival, raising concerns about airport screening effectiveness. The article also highlighted the deteriorating conditions of Nigeria's health system, including a shortage of health workers and inadequate resources in primary health centers.