Nigeria has confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, linked to an outbreak in the DRC. The infected woman travelled from Uganda to Abuja, and authorities are tracing 44 contacts.
01Summary
- 01A woman travelling from Uganda to Abuja on October 3 tested positive for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain on October 19, with results confirmed on October 21.
- 02Nigeria's NCDC performed three molecular tests; the WHO confirmed the strain, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.
- 03The patient, a diplomat, has developed multi-organ failure, according to an unnamed official.
- 04Authorities have identified 44 contacts, mostly healthcare workers, and are tracing passengers from the Uganda flight.
- 05The DRC outbreak, the deadliest on record, has seen more than 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths since mid-May.
02Why it matters
This is the first spread of the current Ebola outbreak to West Africa, raising concerns about wider transmission given the 12-day delay in testing. Nigeria's ability to contain the virus will be tested after a similar success in 2014.
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