NCDC Confirms Nigeria's First Ebola Case from Uganda

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a woman who tested positive for Ebola arrived in Nigeria on October 5. She developed symptoms two days later and presented at a private health facility in the Federal Capital Territory on October 11.

Dr Odianosen Ehiakhamen, the Incident Manager of the National Ebola Disease Response, stated that the patient was initially treated for malaria-like symptoms until her travel history to Uganda raised suspicion. The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria's first imported case of Ebola virus disease on October 21.

Health Minister Prof Ali Pate announced that 44 contacts, including healthcare workers and caregivers, had been identified for monitoring. The patient was isolated and receiving medical care while health authorities intensified contact tracing.

Ehiakhamen noted that the hospital alerted the NCDC after the patient failed to improve, leading to sample collection for laboratory testing. Preliminary results were available the following morning, with repeat tests requested before findings were communicated.