Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case since 2014, an infection brought into Abuja that led to contact tracing and an emergency meeting of African health ministers as the outbreak spreads across the continent.
The patient is a woman who recently travelled from Uganda. Nigerian authorities said she developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in the country. She sought care at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11.
Laboratory tests confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease on October 20. She is in isolation and receiving medical care. Officials are investigating where she was infected.
They are also retracing her movements and possible exposures. Nigeria’s disease control agency has activated its system for managing the response. Health authorities say they have identified 44 contacts for monitoring.
They are also strengthening steps to prevent infections at the clinic. This makes Nigeria the fifth country to detect the virus since the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak has reached Central, Eastern and Western Africa.
It has called health ministers to a virtual meeting on October 28. The meeting is intended to coordinate action and support across borders. WHO and its partners are helping Nigeria investigate the case, trace contacts and prevent infections.
They are also providing supplies for health workers.