Nigeria’s government announced on Tuesday the detection of an Ebola case in Abuja, the capital, following positive laboratory test results confirming the viral infection. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate revealed that the infected individual, a female, had recently traveled from Uganda in East Africa. Pate assured the public that the patient is currently isolated and receiving high-quality medical treatment, with contact tracing efforts already underway, identifying 44 potential contacts.
In response to the situation, Ugandan government spokesperson Alan Kasujja denied the presence of Ebola in Uganda. The patient had initially sought care at a private hospital in Abuja before the diagnosis was confirmed. Minister Pate emphasized Nigeria’s past success in containing Ebola in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s ability to manage the current case effectively.
Meanwhile, an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has escalated to become the world’s second-largest outbreak since mid-May. Uganda previously reported 20 cases between May and June, primarily originating from Congo, but was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization in August. Kenya has reported nine Ebola cases this month, all linked to an individual who had traveled from Congo.
The top public health agency in Africa, led by Jean Kaseya, has initiated efforts to support Nigeria in response to the outbreak. Kaseya highlighted the extensive geographic reach of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, affecting multiple countries across three regions of Africa.