Nigeria's Health Minister Projects Ebola Outbreak End Date

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a potential date of December 7, 2026, to declare the Ebola outbreak over, contingent on the absence of new confirmed or probable cases. This update was provided by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, on October 26, 2026, after the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland.

The first case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was confirmed in Nigeria on October 20, 2026, involving a woman who had traveled to Uganda and returned to Nigeria on October 7 with worsening symptoms. Pate emphasized that the proposed date relies on the validation of a 42-day countdown by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He warned that any new confirmed or probable cases could reset this timeline. The number of individuals linked to the index patient has risen to 53, with health authorities actively monitoring these contacts to prevent further transmission.