By Matthew Okon
Health authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have identified and isolated all primary and secondary contacts of the territory’s confirmed Ebola case, with completed laboratory tests returning negative results.
The FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat said on Saturday that only one case had so far been recorded in the territory, while results of a few remaining routine tests were still being awaited.
The Mandate Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Fasawe Adedolapo, disclosed this during a briefing with journalists and healthcare stakeholders in Abuja on Friday, October 23, 2026.
She said the FCT Administration had strengthened its surveillance and emergency response measures following the confirmation of the imported Ebola case linked to international travel.
According to her, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed public and private health facilities to maintain heightened suspicion for possible cases, enforce infection prevention protocols and conduct immediate screening and triage at entry points.
Fasawe also said the administration had extended safety guidelines to religious institutions, funeral service managers and community leaders to ensure compliance with safe handling and sanitation procedures during burial rites and public gatherings.
She added that designated isolation facilities at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital were equipped and on standby to respond to any emergency.
The Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Asaolu, said secondary health facilities had introduced additional precautions, including designated holding wards, temperature checks at hospital gates, staff safety procedures and daily checks of personal protective equipment.
He said the facilities were working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other stakeholders to sustain surveillance without disrupting routine healthcare services.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the NCDC, Dr. Tochi Okwor, said the centre had deployed expert teams to support infection control, staff training and response capacity in public and private hospitals across the FCT.
Okwor urged residents to observe hand hygiene, promptly report suspected cases and adhere to public health guidance to prevent possible secondary transmission.
The authorities advised residents to remain vigilant, avoid spreading unverified information and direct health-related concerns to official FCT and NCDC reporting channels.
