Nigeria has confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is linked to a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease across Africa.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed that the infected patient is a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja on October 3, 2026.
Health authorities said the woman was tested on October 19 after officials discovered her recent travel history to Uganda, where the Ebola outbreak has also been reported. Her infection was subsequently confirmed through laboratory tests.
Olajumoke Babatunde, Director of Public Health Laboratory Services at the NCDC, explained that three rounds of molecular testing were conducted, with all results identifying the Bundibugyo strain.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also confirmed the findings. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this particular strain of Ebola.
Patient Reportedly Develops Multiple-Organ Failure
An unnamed official told the AFP news agency that the infected woman is a diplomat whose condition has reportedly deteriorated to multiple-organ failure.
Nigeria's Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care.
However, Nigerian physician Ayoade Alakija raised concerns about the time taken to diagnose the infection, noting that approximately 12 days elapsed between the onset of the woman's illness and her Ebola test.
The delay has raised questions about possible exposure among people who may have come into contact with the patient before her diagnosis.
According to the NCDC, health authorities have identified 44 contacts, most of whom are healthcare workers. The patient's husband, a Swiss national residing with her in Abuja, is also among those being monitored.
Officials are tracing passengers who travelled with the woman from Uganda to Nigeria, although preliminary assessments suggest she was not displaying symptoms during the flight.
African Countries Strengthen Ebola Response
The World Health Organization has identified Nigeria as the fifth country affected by the current outbreak.
Kenya has also reported nine cases since October 6, highlighting concerns about the virus spreading across national borders.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the outbreak was no longer an isolated national emergency but a continental public health concern.
He announced plans to convene African health ministers the following week to strengthen cross-border coordination and assess the capacity of hospitals to respond to the outbreak.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre, with more than 9,000 reported infections and over 4,000 deaths since mid-May, making it the country's deadliest recorded Ebola outbreak.
Nigeria Recalls 2014 Ebola Outbreak
Nigeria previously recorded an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced the virus into Lagos.
Authorities managed to contain the outbreak within three months, with 20 confirmed infections and eight deaths.
The wider West African Ebola epidemic, which lasted from late 2013 to 2016, claimed more than 11,000 lives across the region.
The latest confirmation has placed Nigerian health authorities on alert as they intensify contact tracing, isolate suspected cases and monitor potentially exposed individuals to prevent further transmission.
The effectiveness of these measures will be crucial in limiting the spread of the Bundibugyo strain in Nigeria and protecting neighbouring countries.
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