Nigeria confirms its first Ebola case as Africa's outbreak spreads west
A woman who arrived in Abuja from Uganda has tested positive, and 44 contacts are being traced. Africa CDC calls the Bundibugyo outbreak 'an extremely serious threat': more than 9,500 infections and 4,600 deaths so far.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has confirmed an Ebola case in its capital, Abuja. The health ministry said the patient, a woman who had arrived from Uganda, developed symptoms on 7 October, was admitted to hospital four days later and was then diagnosed. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said 44 contacts had been identified and were being traced.
Uganda's health ministry said the woman had only transited through the country after a business trip to eastern Congo, insisted that Uganda has no confirmed active cases, and said the place of infection is still under investigation.
Nigeria is the latest country touched by the outbreak, which began in Congo in mid-May. Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and has since recorded nine. Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya said the continent faces 'an extremely serious threat', with a fatality rate of nearly 50%, adding that the Bundibugyo outbreak is already the most geographically widespread in history.
The rare Bundibugyo strain has infected more than 9,500 people and killed over 4,600. The WHO says it is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record and is on course to surpass the 2014–2016 West African epidemic, which killed about 11,000 people. Nigeria set up an Ebola taskforce in June and has stepped up surveillance, isolation and contact tracing.