The Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI) is deeply concerned by the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The Federal Government announced on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, that laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda, marking the countryβs first confirmed case in the current outbreak.
This development is a sobering reminder that the threat of infectious disease is never far from our shores. While we commend the swift response of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat, MHI urges every Nigerian to take this warning seriously.
The Facts as Confirmed
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the patient developed symptoms on 7 October, sought care at a private hospital in Abuja on 11 October, and was confirmed positive on 20 October. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical treatment. Authorities have identified 44 close contacts for monitoring, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, and fellow travellers.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials. Symptoms include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
MHIβs Call to Action
MHI calls on all Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant. Panic will not protect usβawareness and responsible action will. We urge every citizen to:
Practise regular hand hygiene with soap and running water
Avoid direct contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola
Report immediately to public health authorities if you or anyone you know develops symptoms, especially after possible exposure
Cooperate fully with contact tracing teams
Avoid bushmeat from unknown sources during this period
Anyone with symptoms or concerns should contact the NCDC toll-free line 6232 (available 24 hours a day).
We also call on government at all levels to:
Sustain and scale up emergency response measures, contact tracing, and surveillance
Equip and protect healthcare workers who are on the frontlines
Provide transparent, timely updates to the public to prevent misinformation and stigma
Strengthen infection prevention and control in public and private health facilities nationwide
Our Commitment
At Mercy Helpline Initiative, our motto is βGiving Relevance to Life.β Protecting life in the face of a deadly disease is not just a public health dutyβit is a moral obligation. MHI stands ready to support community awareness, sensitisation, and advocacy efforts to ensure that accurate information reaches every corner of Nigeria.
We commend the Federal Government for its prompt confirmation and response. We urge every Nigerian to play their part. Ebola is deadly, but complacency is equally dangerous.
Together, through vigilance, accurate information, and collective responsibility, we can contain this threat and protect our communities.
Every life matters. Every precaution counts. Stay safe, Nigeria.
Signed
Samuel Solomon
Executive Director
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
π +234 806 127 3237
π§ mercyhelplineinitiative@gmail.com
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