Nigeria becomes fifth country hit by Ebola
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Umuseke
Nigeria has become the fifth country affected by the Ebola outbreak declared in May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after a case was confirmed in Abuja. The patient, who arrived from Uganda, is isolated and 44 people are being monitored, according to Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate and the World Health Organization.
Nigeria has become the fifth country where Ebola has been detected since the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed on 20 October that a traveller who arrived in Abuja from Uganda had tested positive and been placed in isolation.
As of 20 October, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kenya had nine cases, including one death, while Uganda had declared its outbreak over after 42 days without a new infection, according to data cited by the WHO.
The Nigerian patient’s infection was detected after symptoms appeared on 7 October and she was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on 11 October. Forty-four people who may have been in contact with her were being monitored in isolation, while authorities urged public and private health facilities to step up screening for suspected cases.
The announcement follows the confirmation of the first Ebola case in Abuja, published on 20 October, and the identification of the patient’s 44 contacts on the same day. Uganda had also asked Nigeria for the traveller’s medical records as part of the follow-up to the infection.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
