Health · Public Health & Disease · 8 hrs ago
Nigeria expands Ebola screening requirement for international travellers
Nigeria’s health agency has restored health declarations for all international travellers after a confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
The patient is a 42-year-old woman from Uganda who arrived in Nigeria on 3 October and was confirmed to have Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The NCDC had previously limited the declaration requirement to travellers from selected countries linked to the outbreak, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Health officials have identified 53 people as primary contacts and are tracing and monitoring them.
They will follow up with these contacts for 21 days, Ebola’s maximum incubation period, and say being a contact does not mean someone has the disease.
Nigeria is also strengthening airport screening at Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt, though construction is creating challenges at Lagos airport.
The NCDC is coordinating implementation with aviation authorities and says contact tracing and other response measures are ongoing.
Nigeria has expanded its health declaration requirement for international travellers after confirming an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
NCDC Director-General Jide Idris announced the reversal at a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday.
The requirement had been limited to passengers arriving from selected countries linked to the outbreak, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The confirmed case was a 42-year-old Ugandan woman who arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on 3 October.
Health authorities identified 53 primary contacts and are monitoring them as contact tracing continues.
- Who
- The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), led by Director-General Jide Idris, expanded the requirement.
- What
- Health declarations are again required of international travellers.
- When
- Idris announced the change on Sunday, 25 October 2026.
- Where
- The announcement was made in Abuja; the confirmed Ebola case was in the Federal Capital Territory.
- Why
- Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case caused by the Bundibugyo virus and expanded screening as part of its response.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The 42-year-old Ugandan woman travelled to Nigeria from Uganda.
The woman developed symptoms and sought medical attention.
The woman’s Bundibugyo virus Ebola infection was confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory.
NCDC Director-General Jide Idris announced that the health declaration requirement would again apply to international travellers.
- Confirmed case
- Bundibugyo virus Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory
- Patient
- 42-year-old Ugandan woman
- Arrival in Nigeria
- 3 October, from Uganda
- Primary contacts identified
- 53
- Airports named for preparedness measures
- Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt
3 sources
What people are saying
But with this case, we have reversed that directive.