EBOLA STRIKES NIGERIA AGAIN

 



By Joseph Etsevi Dodji

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed the case on October 20 after laboratory tests identified the Bundibugyo strain in a woman receiving treatment at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nigeria’s public health system is facing renewed scrutiny following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Abuja, with authorities tracing 44 contacts and monitoring the situation to prevent further transmission.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the patient travelled from Uganda to Nigeria, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention on October 11. A report by PREMIUM TIMES, citing Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), identified her as the wife of a diplomat who had travelled to Uganda for a holiday.

Concern has grown over conflicting reports about the patient's condition. While the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reportedly disclosed that she had developed multiple organ failure, a separate account citing Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya indicated that the Health Minister had described her condition as stable and improving.

The 44 contacts identified include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and others who may have encountered the woman. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo also reportedly directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to place 46 people, comprising the identified contacts and two domestic staff members, on a 21-day no-fly list.

The restriction is intended to limit movement while health authorities assess potential exposure. The government has also urged hospitals to remain vigilant, isolate suspected cases promptly and report them to the relevant agencies.

The Bundibugyo strain is relatively uncommon and has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Medical management therefore relies on supportive care, early detection and measures to prevent further transmission. This new strain of Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, as well as contaminated materials. Symptoms may include fever, headache, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The development comes amid an outbreak of the same strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with other countries also reporting infections linked to cross-border transmission. Nigeria's case highlights the importance of surveillance, international cooperation and effective contact tracing.

The situation has revived memories of Nigeria's 2014 Ebola outbreak, which resulted in 20 confirmed cases and 8 deaths. Authorities eventually contained the outbreak of the deadly Ebola in 2014 through isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions, the current development reiterate the need for vigilance. With contact tracing and surveillance ongoing, the immediate priority is to identify potential infections, protect healthcare workers and prevent further transmission.

Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, practice proper hand hygiene and avoid spreading unverified information.The public has also been advised against stigmatizing people based on nationality, travel history or association with a suspected case.

As investigations continue, authorities face a crucial task of ensuring that one imported case does not spread into becoming a wider public health emergency.

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