Health · 2026-10-21 · Morning briefing

Nigeria confirms Ebola case as regional outbreak accelerates

Nigeria has confirmed its first case of Ebola in the capital, Abuja. The patient is a woman who tested positive after travelling on business from Congo's eastern region and transiting through Uganda. Health minister Muhammad Pate announced that authorities have begun tracing 44 people identified as the woman's contacts.

The case marks a significant westward expansion of an outbreak that has already reached Kenya, which has recorded nine infections. Uganda's health ministry insists the woman was only in transit and that the country has no active cases. Dr Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, has labelled the situation an "extremely serious threat," noting the outbreak's fatality rate is approaching 50%.

The WHO has described the spread of this rare Bundibugyo virus as the fastest on record. The current outbreak has infected more than 9,500 people and killed over 4,600; the health body says it is on track to exceed the deadliest epidemic on record, which killed 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.

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• Nigeria confirms 1st Ebola case, Kenya its 9th in regional outbreak
• Another African country confirms Ebola case, becoming fifth affected by regional outbreak
• Nigeria confirms first Ebola case as outbreak spreads
• Nigeria Confirms Ebola Case in Abuja as Woman Who Arrived From Uganda Tests Positive
• Nigeria confirms first imported Ebola case in Abuja

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