Ebola spreads to Nigeria as Africa CDC calls crisis meeting amid deadly outbreak and disputed travel account

Meeting follows Nigeria case

Africa CDC announced the virtual meeting late Wednesday, describing it as extraordinary. Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the gathering would help strengthen the continent’s joint response. The announcement came after news that Ebola had reached Nigeria. A woman who returned from Uganda earlier in the month was reported to have brought the virus there.

Nigeria traces contacts

Nigerian authorities said they were tracing 44 people who had contact with the patient. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said officials were doing everything possible to contain the case.

Uganda disputes account

Uganda has rejected Nigeria’s claims about the patient’s travel. The country recorded 20 cases in this outbreak and declared itself Ebola-free in July; the World Health Organization said the Uganda outbreak ended on August 27. The reporting does not reconcile Uganda’s rejection with the account that the woman returned from Uganda before arriving in Nigeria.

Outbreak spans African regions

More than 9,500 people have been infected since Ebola was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May, and nearly half have died. The WHO describes it as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever.

The outbreak has reached four African countries and is active in two, spanning central, eastern and western regions. A French doctor infected while doing humanitarian work in Congo recovered after treatment in a specialized facility in France.

The WHO urged countries in the region to maintain a high level of readiness as the situation in Congo develops. Kaseya said the spread across three African regions required urgent action and stronger coordination.