The United States Mission in Nigeria has urged American citizens in the country to exercise caution following the Federal Government’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
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In a health advisory issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Mission said Nigerian health authorities were conducting contact tracing following the confirmation of the case on October 20, 2026.
The Mission said Nigerian authorities had identified the infection as Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola, and advised U.S. citizens and other travellers to follow public health guidance while investigations continued.
It urged members of the public to consult the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information on Ebola and travel-health guidance relating to Nigeria.
The advisory particularly encouraged people who may have been exposed to the virus to contact a healthcare provider if they developed symptoms consistent with Ebola.
“If at risk for Ebola, alert your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola to receive guidance prior to presenting for care,” the Mission stated.
It also advised travellers to continue taking malaria-prevention medication where prescribed, warning that symptoms of malaria can resemble those of Ebola and may result in unnecessary health concerns.
“Continue to take malaria prophylaxis as recommended by your doctor. Symptoms of malaria can mimic symptoms of Ebola, leading to preventable health scares,” the advisory stated.
The Mission further advised people who had travelled to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the affected area.
“Monitor your health for 21 days following travel to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” it said.
It also encouraged travellers to confirm with their insurance providers whether their policies cover medical evacuation in the event that they become seriously ill while outside the United States.
“Check with your travel insurance provider about medical evacuation options should you fall ill while overseas,” the Mission added.
The 21-day health-monitoring recommendation does not amount to an automatic requirement for travellers from Nigeria to remain in isolation for 21 days. Rather, individuals who may have been exposed are expected to monitor for symptoms and seek medical guidance if symptoms develop.
The U.S. Mission’s advisory also does not announce a travel ban on Nigeria or prohibit Nigerians from travelling to the United States.
The notice is a health advisory intended to alert U.S. citizens to the confirmed Ebola case and provide precautionary guidance while Nigerian authorities continue contact tracing and other public health measures.
The Federal Government had confirmed the Ebola case in Abuja on October 20, saying the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight, had been placed in isolation and was receiving medical care.
Health authorities have since intensified surveillance and contact tracing while urging healthcare facilities to maintain a high level of vigilance and promptly report suspected cases.
Ebola is transmitted primarily through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through objects contaminated with such fluids.
Health authorities have stressed that people infected with Ebola do not transmit the virus before symptoms begin, while the incubation period can range from two to 21 days.
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