Health · Public Health & Disease · 7 hrs ago
Ebola cases in Nigeria and Kenya widen outbreak across three African regions
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade, involving a woman in the capital, Abuja, who had travelled from Uganda.
Kenya reported its ninth case in an outbreak linked to a traveller who passed through Uganda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, and the Congo has recorded more than 9,550 cases and 4,600 deaths since it was first reported five months ago.
The virus has now been reported across three African regions, making this the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history, according to African health officials.
Officials say there is no evidence of community transmission in Nigeria or Kenya, but it is unclear whether the woman in Abuja exposed others; accounts differ about her travel route.
Nigeria is monitoring 44 of her contacts and searching for other people who may have been exposed, while the woman receives care in isolation.
The WHO urged countries in the region to maintain surveillance and entry-point checks, and African health officials called for international support to contain the outbreak.
Nigeria and Kenya have reported Ebola cases linked to travellers who passed through Uganda, widening the outbreak across Central, East and West Africa.
The Africa CDC says the outbreak is the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history.
Nigeria reported its first case in more than a decade, and Kenya reported its ninth.
Nigeria is tracing 44 contacts of the patient, who is in isolation and receiving medical care.
African health ministers have been invited to an Africa CDC virtual meeting on Oct. 28 to discuss the response.
- Who
- Nigeria and Kenya have reported cases of Ebola. Nigeria’s patient is a foreign national.
- What
- The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has spread to three African regions.
- When
- Nigeria and Kenya reported cases on Tuesday. An Africa CDC meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28.
- Where
- The cases were reported in Abuja, Nigeria, and Kenya; the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Why
- The cases are linked to travellers who passed through Uganda. The likely source of Nigeria’s patient’s infection is still under investigation.
Ugandan authorities
Nigerian authorities
Origin of Nigeria’s case
Ugandan authorities
Uganda has denied claims that the case originated there.
Nigerian authorities
Nigerian authorities linked the case to a traveller from Uganda; the patient’s full travel and exposure history is under investigation.
The outbreak was first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the WHO.
Nigeria reported its first Ebola case in more than a decade, and Kenya reported its ninth case.
The Africa CDC invited African health ministers to an extraordinary virtual meeting on the outbreak.
The Africa CDC meeting is scheduled to take place virtually.
- Regions affected
- Central Africa, East Africa and West Africa
- Nigeria contacts
- 44 identified for monitoring
- Kenya cases
- 9
- Outbreak cases in Congo
- More than 9,500, according to ABC News
- Africa CDC meeting
- Oct. 28
2 sources
What people are saying
This Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak has already become the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history, affecting multiple countries across three regions of Africa
The situation demands urgent action and political leadership at the highest level.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of her infection and reconstruct her full travel and exposure history