Nigeria reports first Ebola case in current outbreak

Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in the current outbreak on Tuesday after a woman who travelled from Uganda tested positive for the virus in Abuja. France 24, Al Jazeera, DW, and The Washington Post all reported the official confirmation by Nigerian health authorities. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed the details, according to DW. [1][2][3][4]

Al Jazeera reported that the patient began showing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11 before being diagnosed. Initial Ebola symptoms appear between two and 21 days after exposure and include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. [2][13]

The current epidemic originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where cases were first reported in Ituri Province in May 2026. The outbreak subsequently expanded into neighbouring countries including Uganda, as FTMQ News reported earlier. France 24 noted that Kenya has declared its ninth case, while Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya warned of an extremely serious threat and requested international funding and supplies. [1][3][11][14][15]

Health officials praised Nigerian authorities for their transparency in reporting the spread, according to The New York Times. France 24 and Al Jazeera reported that the arrival of the virus in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has heightened concerns about further spread across the continent. [1][2][7]