Symbolic imageEbola reaches West Africa as Nigeria confirms Bundibugyo case
Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case, a woman who arrived from Uganda, bringing the outbreak to West Africa.
Nigeria's government announced on Tuesday, 20 October, that tests had confirmed Ebola in a woman in Abuja; on Wednesday the laboratory director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said three molecular tests showed the Bundibugyo strain. Le Monde reports that officials describe her as a diplomat whose condition has worsened to multi-organ failure. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said 44 contacts have been identified. WHO is supporting contact tracing and protective equipment and advises against travel restrictions, while Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya called the outbreak the most geographically extensive in history and set an emergency virtual meeting for 28 October.
Uganda disputes origin
Uganda's health ministry says the woman travelled to eastern Congo and transited Uganda in early October without symptoms, so the place of exposure remains under investigation. It reports no active cases. Breitbart says Pate presumed she was likely infected in Uganda.
Lawmakers press for funds
On Wednesday the House of Representatives urged the executive to release outstanding funds to health agencies, citing supply shortages and gaps in worker preparedness.