Harry Archie
Nigeria has confirmed one case of Ebola in Abuja, the country’s capital.
Health officials have started tracing people who had contact with the patient to prevent the spread of the disease.
Health Minister Ali Pate said on Tuesday that 44 people who had close contact with the patient had been identified and were being monitored.
The woman arrived in Nigeria from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where tests confirmed that she had Ebola.
She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The report said Nigeria was the first country in West Africa to confirm a case linked to the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
In Kenya, the health ministry reported nine confirmed cases of the disease.In the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 9,400 people had been infected with Ebola, while over 4,500 had died as of mid-October.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has increased health monitoring for travellers arriving from countries affected by the outbreak.
Travellers may face additional screening and be required to complete health declaration forms.
The agency advised the public to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms such as fever, headache, severe tiredness, vomiting or diarrhoea.
