Nigeria has reportedly confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja following a positive test involving a woman who recently arrived from Uganda.
According to the report, the Federal Ministry of Health disclosed the development on Tuesday, raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease.
The woman reportedly began experiencing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11, where she was subsequently diagnosed with Ebola.
Health Minister Muhammad Pate was quoted as saying that health authorities had identified 44 people who may have come into contact with the patient and commenced efforts to trace and monitor them.
The report also indicated that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following reports of Ebola infections elsewhere in East Africa.
The agency’s preparedness measures include early case detection, isolation, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, public awareness and the protection of healthcare workers.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials.
The reported development underscores the importance of disease surveillance, timely diagnosis and coordinated public health responses in preventing potential outbreaks.