Nigeria has confirmed its first case of Ebola in the capital, Abuja, following the diagnosis of a woman who traveled from Uganda. The health ministry reported that the woman began showing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a hospital four days later, where she tested positive for the virus.
Details of the Case
The exact date of her arrival in Nigeria remains unclear. Muhammad Pate, the health minister, stated that authorities have initiated contact tracing for 44 individuals identified as contacts of the patient. He emphasized,
“"We are doing everything possible to contain this case by tracing all the contacts the individual may have had."
According to Uganda’s ministry of health, the patient only transited through Uganda and is a Nigerian woman who had been on a business trip to Congo’s eastern region. The Nigerian authorities have not disclosed her nationality. The Ugandan ministry clarified,
“"Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation."
They also confirmed that Uganda currently has no confirmed active Ebola cases.
