The short answer
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with it, or who has died of it. It does not spread through the air, and a person who has no symptoms does not pass it on. If you have travelled to Uganda, DR Congo or Kenya in the last 21 days, or been close to someone with Ebola, call NCDC on 6232 before you go to any clinic or hospital. A fever with no travel or contact is far more likely to be malaria or another common infection, and you should still see a doctor.
See a Mezo doctor by videoMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
What has happened
On 20 October 2026 the Federal Government confirmed one imported case of Ebola in Abuja, in a traveller from Uganda. The patient is in isolation and NCDC is following up everyone who was in close contact. The virus is the Bundibugyo type, part of a wider outbreak in Central and East Africa. Follow NCDC for the latest numbers rather than social media.
Who is at risk
The people at risk are those who, in the last 21 days, have travelled to Uganda, DR Congo or Kenya, cared for or touched someone sick with Ebola, handled the body of someone who died of it, or worked in a clinic where a case was seen. Everyone else in Nigeria is at very low risk today.
The symptoms
Symptoms start between 2 and 21 days after contact. They begin like many common illnesses, which is why travel and contact matter so much:
- Fever, tiredness and weakness
- Headache and muscle pain
- Vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising, later in the illness
If you have travelled or been in contact
Call NCDC on 6232. The call is free and the line is open 24 hours. Do this before you go to any clinic, hospital or pharmacy, so they can tell you where to go and the people there can be ready for you. Until then, stay apart from other people and do not share cups, towels or a bed.
If you have no symptoms, NCDC will still want to know, so you can be checked until the 21 days are over. Mezo will see you by video in that time, but not at a clinic or at home.
If you have a fever but no travel or contact
Do not stay at home and hope. Most fevers here are malaria, typhoid or another common infection, and they need a doctor, a test and the right treatment. A Mezo doctor can see you by video first, and arrange a test or a visit if you need one.
Protecting your family
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after caring for anyone who is sick
- Do not touch the blood, vomit or other body fluids of a sick person without gloves
- Do not wash or prepare the body of someone who died of an unexplained illness: call NCDC
- Ignore remedies passed around on WhatsApp. In 2014, people who drank or bathed in salt water to prevent Ebola died from it
Common questions
Is there a vaccine for this type of Ebola?
Not yet. The licensed Ebola vaccine protects against a different type. Trials of vaccines for the Bundibugyo type have started. Early care in a treatment centre gives the best chance of recovery, which is why calling NCDC early matters.
Can Mezo test me for Ebola?
No. Ebola testing in Nigeria is done only by NCDC's designated laboratories. If you think you have been exposed, call 6232. No private clinic or app can test you for Ebola.
Can I catch Ebola from someone with no symptoms?
No. A person passes Ebola on only once they are sick. That is why people who were in contact are watched for 21 days rather than kept away from everyone.
Is it safe to go to a clinic or hospital?
For people with no travel or contact, yes. Every facility in Nigeria has been told to screen patients at the door. If you would rather not sit in a waiting room, a Mezo doctor can see you by video.
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Ebola disease. World Health Organization. Fact sheet.
- Disease Outbreak News: Ebola disease. World Health Organization, 2026. Fact sheet.
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. NCDC. Patient information.
Links last checked 20 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.