Nigerian government has confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with 44 contacts identified for monitoring as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, saying laboratory tests had confirmed the infection in a woman who recently travelled to Uganda.
Pate said the patient developed symptoms on 7 October and sought medical attention at a private health facility on 11 October. Subsequent investigations confirmed that she had contracted Ebola virus disease.
He said the woman had been isolated and was receiving medical care, while relevant health authorities and international partners were working together to contain the infection.
The response involves the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Secretariat, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“Today, we are confirming that there has been one imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory. A laboratory confirmation was received today,” the minister said.
“The patient is a woman who had a travel history to Eastern Africa, to Uganda in particular, and came back with symptoms that commenced on the 7th of October.”
According to him, contact tracing has commenced, with 44 people identified for monitoring. They include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel-related contacts who may have been exposed to the infected woman.
Pate said public health teams were continuing to identify additional contacts and monitor those who might have been exposed. He added that the private hospital where the patient received treatment was receiving support to strengthen its infection prevention and control measures.
“The patient is stable, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure that we contain this through tracing all the contacts that this individual may have had,” he said.
The minister urged public and private health facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, stressing that early detection, prompt isolation and immediate reporting of suspected cases were essential to preventing further transmission.