Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in the capital, Abuja, after a woman who travelled from Uganda tested positive for the virus.
The development comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and confirmed infections in Kenya, raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease across Africa.
According to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the woman began experiencing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11, where she was subsequently diagnosed with Ebola.
Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities had initiated contact tracing to identify 44 people who may have come into contact with the infected woman.
He said the government was taking all necessary measures to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
Kenya Records Ninth Ebola Case
Meanwhile, Kenya has confirmed its ninth Ebola infection, involving a 24-year-old man who was already in quarantine when he developed symptoms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kenya’s Ministry of Health said the man was immediately isolated, tested and placed on treatment after his infection was confirmed.
The patient is a close relative of Kenya’s first Ebola case, involving a person who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Kenya. The individual later died at a hospital in Nairobi on October 5.
Kenya’s Director-General of Health, Patrick Amoth, said all nine confirmed infections were linked to the same cluster, with no evidence of transmission beyond the group.
He added that eight patients were stable and responding well to treatment, while health authorities had traced and quarantined 134 of the 135 identified contacts.
According to Amoth, most of the people under observation were approaching the end of the mandatory 21-day monitoring period and could begin returning home from October 25, provided they remained symptom-free.
The ministry appealed to communities to welcome the individuals back, stressing that those who completed the monitoring period without developing the disease posed no risk of infection.
Authorities also reported that no infections had been recorded within quarantine facilities, adding that measures were being maintained to prevent transmission and protect healthcare workers.
Despite the outbreak, Kenya has not introduced restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings, with officials maintaining that the country remains open for business.
Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Raises Concern
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the outbreak has reportedly resulted in more than 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths since May.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has described it as the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record.
Efforts to contain the outbreak have been complicated by the absence of a licensed vaccine or a specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the infections.
Uganda, which has previously recorded Ebola cases, had been declared free of the virus before the latest developments raised fresh concerns about cross-border transmission.
Health authorities continue to emphasise surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and early treatment as key measures to limit the spread of the disease.
