The patient is a woman who recently traveled from Uganda and began experiencing symptoms on 7 October, four days after arriving in the country.
She sought care at a private health facility in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on 11 October, and laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis on 20 October.
She remains in isolation and is receiving medical care while investigations continue to determine the likely source of the infection and reconstruct her travel and exposure history.
Contact tracing underway
WHO said Nigerian health authorities have identified 44 contacts who are being monitored as efforts intensify to find others who may have been exposed.
Infection prevention and control measures are being strengthened at the private health facility where the woman sought care.
Cases reported in five countries
Nigeria is the fifth country to report a case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in mid-May, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country’s history.
Congolese health authorities reported more than 9,500 cases and 4,200 deaths as of 18 October. There is currently no vaccine for the virus.
Uganda also experienced a deadly outbreak, which was officially declared over in late August. Kenya has reported nine cases and the Netherlands one, all linked to the DRC outbreak.
Efforts to contain the spread
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its incident management system to coordinate the response, WHO said.
The UN agency stressed that rapid case identification, timely follow-up of contacts, and effective infection prevention and control are essential to containing the virus.
WHO and its partners are working closely with Nigerian health authorities to strengthen case investigations, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control measures. The agency is also helping provide essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for health workers.
WHO has advised countries across the region to maintain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to develop.
Governments are also being urged to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure that laboratories can safely test suspected cases.
WHO has not recommended any travel or trade restrictions involving affected countries.
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