Nigeria confirms that first case of Ebola is of the Bundibugyo strain

O the first case of Ebola detected in Nigeria is the Bundibugyo strain, responsible for the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the state of the patient, diplomat, deteriorated, announced today the health authorities of the most populous country in Africa.

“ We ran three levels of tests, all molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo”, said Olajumoke Babatunde, director of public health laboratory services at the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at the end of an emergency meeting to discuss the case.

Another official specified that it was “a diplomat” whose state worsened even a “multi-organic failure”.

The Ebola infected patient had recently arrived in Nigeria on a flight from Uganda, explained on Tuesday Nigerian Health Minister Ali Pate, needing that she was admitted to a private hospital in the capital Abuja “where she was treated for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.”.

The woman began to present symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to Abuja on October 11, before being diagnosed with this virus, whose latest epidemic originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo).

Uganda had already recorded Ebola cases, but was later declared virus-free.

Nigeria is thus the most recent country to report an Ebola case, after neighbour Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and in the meantime recorded eight more cases.

The Nigerian Center for Disease Control (CDC) stated two weeks ago that it was stepping up surveillance following the detection of Ebola in Kenya and strengthening the country’s preparation for a potential outbreak.

“ These efforts have focused on early detection, isolation and referral, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, risk reporting and protection of health professionals,” the Nigerian CDC said.

Kenya is the fourth country to record a case linked to the Ebola epidemic in the DRC, joining Uganda, France and the Netherlands.

In Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared, on August 26, the end of the outbreak, after accounting for 20 confirmed cases, including 15 imported from DRC, and two deaths.

After recent cases have been detected in Kenya and Nigeria, the African Union’s public health agency (AU) today announced the call for a virtual meeting to take place on October 28 with the continent’s Health Ministers to address the “growing threat” of the Ebola virus.

“ Five months after the start of the response, the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus – the current strain – continues in DRCongo, and now cases have been reported in Kenya and Nigeria,” says the CDC Africa statement.

According to the same note, the geographical spread of the Ebola virus through Central, Eastern and Western Africa “requires urgent and coordinated action” and meeting will therefore give health authorities the opportunity to “evaluate the situation, strengthen cross-border coordination, accelerate aid to affected countries and strengthen preparation across the continent.”.

The epidemic in DRCongo is the second most lethal in history at a global level, having caused 9,552 confirmed cases, including 4,602 deaths, according to the last official balance sheet, with data collected until 18 October.

Ebola is highly contagious and is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomiting, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces such as linen and clothing.