Uganda has denied reports of an active Ebola outbreak in the country after Nigeria confirmed an imported case of the virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising fresh concerns over cross-border disease surveillance in East Africa and West Africa.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health said the woman who tested positive in Nigeria had travelled through the country, but stressed that transit alone did not establish where she contracted the infection.

It said information on her movements, travel dates and clinical history would be essential to determining the location of exposure and guiding any additional public health measures.

The ministry added that it was working with relevant agencies to strengthen screening and surveillance at points of entry following Nigeria’s announcement.

Uganda reported Ebola infections earlier in 2026 but subsequently declared that outbreak over after meeting the required conditions for ending transmission.

“The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Tuesday, adding that further details about the woman’s travel itinerary and clinical history were needed to establish the likely source of infection.

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the confirmed case on Tuesday, saying laboratory tests had established that the woman was infected with Ebola virus disease.

According to the minister, the patient had recently travelled to East Africa, including Uganda, before returning to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7. Her condition reportedly worsened four days later, prompting further medical attention and testing.

The woman was admitted to a private hospital, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She has since been placed in isolation and is receiving medical care.

Pate said health authorities had identified 44 contacts and commenced contact tracing to prevent further transmission. Surveillance has also been strengthened at Nigeria’s points of entry.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is coordinating the response with the FCT Health Services Secretariat, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health partners.

The minister urged public and private health facilities to remain vigilant and maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola cases, particularly among patients with relevant travel histories and compatible symptoms.

He also called on Nigerians to remain calm, practise good hygiene and promptly report symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea to healthcare professionals.

The government said it was drawing on Nigeria’s experience in containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak and on public health systems developed since then to manage the current case and prevent further spread.