Symbolic imageEbola reaches Nigeria as WHO warns of a more complex outbreak
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case on Tuesday, the fourth African country hit this year by the Bundibugyo strain. WHO's Africa director says the outbreak is now more complex.
Nigeria announced the case in Abuja on Tuesday, 20 October, and confirmed the Bundibugyo strain a day later. According to Al Jazeera, the patient is the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat. Mohamed Janabi, WHO's regional director for Africa, told a briefing on Thursday that cases now exist in East and West Africa. The ECDC counts 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 deaths in Congo as of 19 October, and Kenya has reported nine cases.
Source of infection disputed
Ugandan authorities say the woman travelled to eastern Congo before transiting through Uganda, but WHO and Africa CDC say they have no confirmed information of travel to Congo. Switzerland's government told Reuters she probably caught the virus in Uganda, which spokesman Alan Kasujja called "preposterous". Africa CDC says the Nigerian and the first Kenyan patient both left Entebbe on 3 October, and a possible encounter is under investigation.
Late detection, contact controls
WHO says symptoms began on 7 October and the infection was confirmed on 20 October. Epidemiologist Peter Adewuyi called the eight to nine days needed for detection a concern, while presidential task force chair Femi Gbajabiamila says the protocols enabled quick identification. Aviation minister Festus Keyamo ordered 46 contacts onto a 21-day no-fly list.