Faster-spreading Ebola outbreak reaches Nigeria: officials confirm case in Abuja as western Africa faces regional threat
Case detected in Abuja
Nigeria’s health ministry said a woman who arrived from Uganda tested positive for Ebola in the capital, Abuja. The authorities have not disclosed her nationality. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said officials had identified 44 people who may have had contact with the patient. He said authorities were working to trace them and contain the case.
Accounts of the woman’s travel
Uganda’s health ministry said the woman had only transited through Uganda. It described her as Nigerian and said she had travelled on business to Congo’s eastern region. The Nigerian authorities have not confirmed her nationality, leaving the two official accounts different on that detail.
Regional response intensifies
Two weeks ago, Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control said it was increasing surveillance after Ebola was detected in Kenya. Nigeria also established an Ebola taskforce in June, following the outbreak in Congo in mid-May.
Outbreak raises wider concern
Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, described the outbreak as an extremely serious threat. He said the fatality rate was nearly 50% of cases.
The World Health Organization has said this is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. It could surpass the deadliest, which killed 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.
Key points
- Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja after a woman arriving from Uganda tested positive.
- Authorities are tracing 44 contacts of the patient.
- Uganda said the woman transited there while travelling to eastern Congo; Nigeria has not disclosed her nationality.
- The WHO says the outbreak is spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak.