Nigeria Confirms First Ebola Case in Over a Decade

Nigeria reported its first Ebola case in over a decade on October 20, after laboratory tests confirmed the virus in a woman living in Abuja who had recently traveled to Uganda. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate stated that the patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care.

Authorities identified 44 individuals who may have been in contact with her and initiated contact tracing. The woman developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention on October 11.

The Swiss government denied earlier claims by Ugandan authorities that the woman had traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) before falling ill. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that she did not travel to the DRC with her husband, a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja.

The World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also stated they had not received confirmed information regarding her travel to the DRC. The Ebola outbreak has affected four African countries, including Nigeria, with a reported death toll of about 4,700.