Africa: Nigeria has confirmed its first case of Ebola virus disease in a woman who arrived from Uganda and is currently in isolation, Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said.
The announcement comes as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warns that the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in the continent’s history. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya has called for urgent international support to contain the spread of the virus.
The outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May and has resulted in more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. Kenya’s Ministry of Health has also reported its ninth confirmed case.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health said the country has no confirmed active Ebola cases. It stressed that the woman’s transit through Uganda does not establish that she contracted the virus there. Africa CDC has urged the international community to provide urgent funding, healthcare personnel and medical supplies to support containment efforts across affected countries.
