Nigeria confirms first Ebola case as outbreak spreads across Africa
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The gist
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case of the latest outbreak, a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja.
The case is Nigeria's first since 2014, and health teams are tracing contacts.
Background
Ebola is a deadly viral haemorrhagic fever. A major outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2026, and it has since spread to several countries across the continent. Nigeria's case is its first recorded Ebola infection since 2014, and officials say the patient had holidayed in Uganda before travelling to the capital, Abuja.
How it unfolded
- May 2026A major Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Oct 20, 2026Nigeria recorded its first Ebola case of the latest outbreak, in a woman who had travelled from Uganda to Abuja, the government confirmed.
- Oct 20, 2026Kenya confirmed its ninth case, a 24-year-old man who was a close family member of the outbreak's first victim and was already in quarantine when symptoms developed.
- Oct 21, 2026Officials said Nigeria's first Ebola patient had holidayed in Uganda.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said laboratory tests had confirmed an imported case in a woman who travelled from Uganda.
- Official
- Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, described the outbreak as an extremely serious threat and urged the international community to provide funding, medical supplies and health workers.