RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for urgent international assistance following the confirmation of an Ebola virus disease case in Nigeria, warning that the outbreak poses a growing threat to public health across the continent.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, appealed on Tuesday after receiving confirmation of the infection from Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
Kaseya commended the Nigerian authorities for promptly reporting the case, stressing that early detection, transparency and coordinated action were essential to containing the spread of the disease.
Nigeria confirmed the infection in a woman who recently travelled from Uganda to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The patient reportedly developed symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital on October 11 before laboratory testing confirmed Ebola on October 20.
Health authorities have identified 44 people who may have been exposed and commenced contact tracing and monitoring.
The patient remains in isolation and is receiving medical attention, while relevant government agencies have intensified surveillance and infection prevention measures.
Africa CDC described the development as another warning of the risk of cross-border transmission as countries in Central and East Africa continue battling the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has spread beyond the country’s borders, prompting heightened surveillance and emergency response measures in neighbouring countries.
Kenya also confirmed its ninth Ebola case on Tuesday, including one previously recorded death.
According to Kenyan health officials, all nine infections are linked to a single transmission cluster, with no evidence of spread beyond identified contacts.
Kaseya warned that the expanding outbreak required immediate international cooperation, particularly in financing, diagnostic equipment, medical supplies and the deployment of trained emergency personnel.
He called on global health institutions, development partners and governments to increase their assistance to affected countries and strengthen community-based disease surveillance.
The Africa CDC chief also emphasised the importance of protecting healthcare workers and ensuring that affected countries had sufficient resources to detect infections early and interrupt transmission.
He urged organisations including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank and other international partners to coordinate their support for the regional response.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had earlier strengthened surveillance and preparedness measures following confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Kenya on October 6.
The agency’s response includes enhanced laboratory readiness, infection prevention, contact tracing, isolation procedures and public awareness campaigns.
Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people who have developed symptoms, as well as contaminated materials.
Symptoms may include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and avoid stigmatising people who may have been exposed.
Members of the public can report suspected cases or seek guidance through the NCDC’s toll-free line, 6232.
Africa CDC maintained that containing the outbreak would require sustained political commitment, rapid mobilisation of resources and stronger cooperation among African governments and international partners.
