The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) said it has stepped up regional disease surveillance and coordination among West African countries following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja, raising concerns over the risk of cross-border transmission.
The ECOWAS specialised health institution disclosed that Nigerian health authorities confirmed the case on October 20, 2026, involving a woman who had recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda.
According to WAHO, the patient developed symptoms on October 7 and received treatment at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11, before laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.
The organisation said it was closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), national health authorities and regional epidemiological surveillance mechanisms.
The confirmation has prompted renewed efforts to strengthen preparedness and early detection across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as health authorities work to minimise the possibility of the disease spreading beyond Nigeria.
As part of the response, WAHO said it held a briefing on October 21 with directors of the National Public Health Institutes of ECOWAS member states to reinforce regional vigilance and coordination.
The organisation said it remained fully mobilised to support member countries in preventing, detecting and responding to public health emergencies, particularly diseases capable of spreading across national borders.
It stressed that early detection, prompt notification of suspected cases, effective epidemiological surveillance and coordination among health services remained critical to containing epidemic-prone diseases.
WAHO also called on the public to observe preventive measures, including frequent handwashing with soap and clean water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
It advised people to avoid direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of sick or deceased persons, as well as contaminated clothing, bedding and personal belongings.
The organisation further warned against handling the bodies of people who died from suspected causes, urging that safe and dignified burials be conducted by trained teams.
It also advised the public against handling or consuming bushmeat and warned against contact with sick or dead animals, including bats and primates. It urged people to ensure that all meat was thoroughly cooked.
Anyone developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, including sudden fever, severe fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea or bleeding, should immediately contact or seek assistance from a health facility, WAHO said.
The organisation also advised against non-essential travel to affected areas, urging travellers whose journeys were unavoidable to comply strictly with official health guidance.
Warning against misinformation during public health emergencies, WAHO urged the public to rely on information from official sources and refrain from circulating rumours or unverified reports.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the health ministries of ECOWAS member states, alongside technical and financial partners, to strengthen regional health security and protect populations across West Africa.
WAHO said its specialised ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control, based in Abuja, would continue monitoring developments and communicating relevant information in coordination with the appropriate health authorities.
The organisation’s intervention comes amid heightened attention to the potential cross-border implications of infectious disease outbreaks, with regional coordination and timely information-sharing considered essential to effective public health preparedness.
