The Ebola case detected in Nigeria is the Bundibugyo strain, which is behind a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), officials confirmed. This development marks the spread of the disease to a fourth African country, with Kenya in the east reporting nine cases since October 6. The case was detected in a woman who is a diplomat and had traveled from Uganda to Abuja, Nigeria's capital, on October 3.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) conducted three levels of molecular tests to confirm the strain. According to Olajumoke Babatunde, director of the public health laboratory service at the NCDC, the tests confirmed the Bundibugyo strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed the strain, for which there is still neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment.
The patient has deteriorated into multi-organ failure, according to an official. The official did not disclose the nationality of the diplomat. Nigeria has identified 44 contacts that are being monitored, while intensifying efforts to find other people who may have been exposed. The WHO said infection prevention and control were being ramped up at the private hospital where the patient sought care.
The DRC's Ebola epidemic has become the deadliest in the country's history, killing 4,381 people out of more than 9,000 confirmed cases since mid-May. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Director General Jean Kaseya warned of an extremely serious threat, with fatality rates fast edging towards 50 percent in the DRC.
The Africa CDC has called a high-level meeting of health ministers for next Wednesday to assess the outbreak, coordinate cross-border efforts, support affected countries, and strengthen continental preparedness. Kaseya described the outbreak as the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history, affecting multiple countries across three regions of Africa.
Nigeria's experience in successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014 raised confidence that the country can respond effectively to new public health threats. That epidemic killed more than 11,000 people across west Africa between late 2013 and 2016. Former NCDC director Abdulsalami Nasidi expressed confidence that Nigeria could contain the outbreak, but said success would depend on funding and commitment from the presidency.
The response to the latest outbreak could test President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid as Nigeria prepares for presidential polls in January. A presidential task force on Ebola said it was confident Nigeria would be able to contain the outbreak. With the right steps being taken, many Nigerians, including Anthony Ojogho, a 42-year-old civil servant, are confident that the authorities can contain the spread of the virus.
Key points
- The Ebola case detected in Nigeria is the Bundibugyo strain, matching the strain behind a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Nigeria has identified 44 contacts that are being monitored, while intensifying efforts to find other people who may have been exposed.
- The Africa CDC has called a high-level meeting of health ministers to assess the outbreak and coordinate cross-border efforts.
