US Embassy Issues Health Alert over Ebola In Nigeria, Urges Travellers To Monitor Symptoms For 21 Days
US Embassy Issues Health Alert over Ebola In Nigeria, Urges Travellers To Monitor Symptoms For 21 Days
The embassy urged travellers returning from areas experiencing an Ebola outbreak to monitor their health for 21 days.
The United States Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, has issued a health alert following Nigeria’s confirmation of a case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola, urging travellers to monitor their health and seek medical guidance if they develop symptoms consistent with the disease.
In the alert issued on Wednesday, on its official website, the embassy described Ebola as a rare, severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever illness and outlined precautionary measures for U.S. citizens and other travellers concerned about possible exposure.
The embassy urged travellers returning from areas experiencing an Ebola outbreak to monitor their health for 21 days.
It also advised individuals who believe they may have been exposed to the virus to alert their healthcare providers if they develop symptoms consistent with Ebola and seek guidance before presenting themselves for medical care.
The advisory directed travellers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for information about Ebola, its symptoms and travel-related health precautions.
It also encouraged travellers to consult the CDC’s Nigeria travel health page for additional guidance.
The U.S. Embassy further advised travellers to continue taking malaria prophylaxis as recommended by their doctors, warning that malaria symptoms can resemble those associated with Ebola.
According to the advisory, the similarity between the symptoms of the two diseases could lead to preventable health scares.
The embassy also recommended that travellers review its Nigeria country information page, consult its list of medical providers and check with their travel insurance companies about medical evacuation arrangements in case they fall ill while overseas.
The health alert comes after the Nigerian government confirmed its first case of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20, 2026.
SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, on Tuesday announced the confirmation of an Ebola virus case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saying laboratory tests confirmed the infection in a woman who arrived in the country on an international flight from Uganda.
The health authorities identified 44 close contacts of the infected woman and commenced contact tracing to determine who might have been exposed to the virus.
The patient was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection. She was subsequently placed in isolation and continued receiving medical care.
The contacts identified include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people linked to the woman’s travel, according to information released by Nigerian health authorities.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said it was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has said the country had no confirmed active Ebola cases as of the time of its statement, following reports that the infected woman had travelled through the country before arriving in Nigeria.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ugandan health authorities said preliminary information indicated that the woman had travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for business and transited through Uganda in early October.
The Ugandan government said she did not exhibit symptoms while in the country but developed them after arriving in Nigeria.
It stressed that the woman’s transit through Uganda did not establish that she contracted the virus there, adding that the location of exposure remained under investigation.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the Ugandan Ministry of Health said.
The ministry also stated that it was awaiting detailed information about the woman’s travel itinerary and clinical history from Nigerian authorities to guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.
The clarification comes amid concerns about the movement of the virus across international borders as countries strengthen surveillance and screening measures.
Bundibugyo virus disease is a form of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Ebola diseases can cause severe illness and, in some cases, death.
The World Health Organization has said that Nigeria’s confirmed case is linked to the wider regional outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, which was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of the Nigerian patient’s infection and reconstruct her travel and exposure history.
The U.S. Embassy directed members of the public to the CDC’s official resources for information on the disease, symptoms and recommended precautions.
The embassy also provided contact details for its Abuja office at Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, for American citizens seeking assistance.
The embassy urged U.S. citizens in Nigeria to monitor official health updates and enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel and safety alerts.
