Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola case in a female patient who travelled from Uganda to Abuja, prompting health authorities to launch contact tracing and strengthen surveillance measures.
Nigeria’s Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that laboratory tests established the infection. The patient has been admitted to a hospital in Abuja, where she is receiving treatment in isolation.
Health officials have identified 44 close contacts who will be monitored for symptoms as authorities work to prevent further transmission. Surveillance and preventive measures have also been stepped up, particularly at points of entry.
The case raises concerns about the spread of the virus beyond East Africa, with Nigeria becoming the first country in West Africa to report an infection linked to the ongoing outbreak, according to the information provided by health authorities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged travellers to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola.
Travellers arriving from affected countries may be required to complete health declaration forms, while those arriving from other countries are currently exempt, according to the advisory.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause fever, fatigue, muscle pain and headaches, followed by symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe illness can lead to organ failure and bleeding.
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials. It is not generally spread through casual contact, making early detection, isolation and infection prevention measures important in containing outbreaks.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reportedly first detected in May, has been associated with the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. Figures attributed to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control put the toll at at least 4,600 deaths and more than 9,500 cases.
Bundibugyo is a relatively rare Ebola strain for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available, although research and clinical trials are ongoing.
Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, when the country recorded eight deaths. The response relied on rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions.
