Ebola Virus Disease: How Nigerians Can Protect Themselves After Abuja’s First Confirmed Case

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed Nigeria’s first Ebola virus disease case in Abuja on October 20, 2026. While the federal government and the NCDC continue to strengthen surveillance and response efforts to prevent the disease from spreading, Nigerian citizens also need to stay alert, stay safe, and take preventive measures.

What Is Ebola Virus Disease?

According to the NCDC, Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a severe disease of humans and other primates caused by an RNA virus of the family Filoviridae and genus Ebola virus. The disease has a high fatality rate, killing between 25% and 90% of those infected.

Research conducted in 2005 suggested fruit bats to be the likely reservoir, due to their ability to spread the virus without being affected by it. The largest outbreak to date took place in West Africa between March 2014 and June 2016, affecting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Nigeria primarily. A total of 11,296 cases were recorded, including suspected and probable cases.

Nigeria’s first-ever Ebola case was confirmed in Lagos on July 23, 2014. With the disease’s high fatality rate, citizens need to understand how to protect themselves before the government’s intervention.

Advice for Nigerians

According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Nigerians are advised to take the following steps:

• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water, or use hand sanitisers when soap and water are not readily available.
• Avoid physical contact with anyone who has symptoms of an infection with an unknown diagnosis.
• Reduce the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission from contact with infected fruit bats or monkeys and apes, and from the consumption of raw meat. Animals should be handled with gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, and animal products should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
• Avoid direct contact with the blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of suspected or confirmed EVD cases.
• Call for help immediately. If you or someone you know (with a travel history to any country with Ebola cases) experiences symptoms of EVD, call 6232 or your State Ministry of Health hotline immediately for guidance.

Advice for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers are advised to:

• Maintain a high index of suspicion for EVD in their encounters with patients.
• Ensure strict isolation of the patient(s).
• Adhere strictly to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hand gloves, appropriate gowns, and safe sharps disposal.
• Report suspected cases immediately to the NCDC or the State Ministry of Health for appropriate response and management.

Advice for Travellers

Travellers are advised to:

• Shelter in place to avoid further spread through shared transport systems (public or private) until health authorities reach out.
• Await dedicated responders for assessment and possible transport to a designated treatment centre if required.

Ebola Symptoms to Watch For

Ebola symptoms can vary, but the most commonly experienced symptoms at the beginning of the disease include a sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and a sore throat. As the disease progresses, other symptoms may develop, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowness of the eyes).

In severe cases, individuals may experience uncontrolled bleeding from body orifices and dysfunction or failure of several organs, including the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. This can lead to shock and, ultimately, death. In fatal cases, death often occurs between 8 and 9 days after the onset of symptoms.

Reporting a Suspected Case

Contact the NCDC for more enquiries or to report a suspected case on the toll-free number: 6232.

Stay safe, Nigerians.