By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABUJA, Thursday, October 22, 2026 — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged Nigerians to remain calm following the confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in the country, assuring that a single imported case does not automatically mean Nigeria is experiencing an outbreak.
The reassurance comes amid growing concern over the condition of the infected woman, identified by health officials as a diplomat, whose condition has reportedly deteriorated into multiple organ failure, while authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, gave the assurance in a video message on Wednesday, stressing that fear and misinformation would not help the country contain the disease.
“One imported case does not by itself mean that Nigeria is experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” Janabi said, urging Nigerians to cooperate with public health authorities and rely on verified information.
According to the organisation, it is working with the Federal Government and other partners on investigations, contact tracing, laboratory testing and infection prevention measures to protect healthcare workers and communities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had confirmed that laboratory tests identified the Bundibugyo strain in the patient, whose infection was announced by the Federal Government on Tuesday, October 20.
The patient reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria, and sought treatment at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11. Laboratory confirmation was received on October 20, after she had spent several days receiving medical attention.
Health officials disclosed on Wednesday that the patient’s condition had deteriorated into multiple organ failure. Her nationality and other identifying details have not been officially disclosed in the reports available.
The NCDC initially identified 44 close contacts linked to the patient, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel-related contacts. The contacts are being monitored as health authorities work to establish the source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s movements and exposure history.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and the Federal Capital Territory health authorities are coordinating the response, with support from the WHO and other partners. Measures have also been strengthened at the private hospital where the patient received treatment.
In a further development, the Federal Government has intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures, while aviation authorities have moved to restrict the travel of individuals identified as exposed contacts. The measures are intended to reduce the risk of further transmission while investigations continue.
The case has also raised questions about the time taken to identify the infection. Virologist Oyewale Tomori has called for greater vigilance among healthcare professionals, particularly when treating patients with relevant travel histories, warning against assuming that fever and other early symptoms are caused by common illnesses without considering possible exposure to dangerous infections.
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The Bundibugyo strain is a distinct type of Ebola virus responsible for a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Unlike some other Ebola virus species, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, making early detection, supportive medical care and effective infection-control measures particularly important.
The outbreak in DR Congo has spread across multiple regions, while Kenya has also reported cases linked to the wider outbreak. The developments have heightened concerns about cross-border transmission and the need for African countries to strengthen surveillance and emergency response systems.
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Nigeria, however, has previous experience in containing Ebola. During the 2014 outbreak, the country successfully contained transmission following the arrival of an infected traveller in Lagos, using isolation, contact tracing, public health surveillance and coordinated emergency measures.
The Merit Newspaper reports that the WHO has urged Nigerians to report suspected cases promptly, cooperate with health authorities and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media.
The organisation maintains that early identification of infections, rapid follow-up of contacts and strict infection prevention and control measures are essential to stopping further transmission.
As investigations continue, the priority for Nigerian authorities remains the patient’s medical care, the monitoring of exposed contacts and the prevention of additional infections.
