Health authorities in Nigeria are intensifying efforts to contain the country’s latest Ebola scare following reports that the patient diagnosed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has deteriorated into multi-organ failure.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that the case involves a diplomat who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on an international flight.

The patient, a woman, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before tests confirmed the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola — a rare and severe form of viral haemorrhagic fever.

Officials say her condition has since worsened, raising fresh concerns about the severity of the infection and the urgency of containment measures.

The Federal Government had earlier confirmed the case on Tuesday, announcing that 44 close contacts had been identified for tracing as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.

Health Minister Ali Pate said the patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while the NCDC is working closely with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection.

Contact tracing is already underway, with public health teams monitoring people who may have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

The Bundibugyo strain, first discovered in Uganda in 2007, spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials and has been linked to a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.