Ebola: Nigeria’s case linked to Kenya – Pate

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has disclosed that genomic analysis of the country’s confirmed Ebola case shows that the isolated virus is closely related to the one identified in Kenya.

Pate, however, said the finding had not established a direct epidemiological link between Nigeria’s case and Kenya’s index case, adding that further investigations were needed to understand the possible route of transmission.

The minister disclosed this while providing an update on Nigeria’s response to the outbreak, alongside the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, on Friday night.

He said the Federal Government was continuing contact tracing, testing and other public health interventions to prevent further transmission of the virus.

“We still have only one confirmed case. The contacts have been traced and quarantined, and we are conducting additional tests. Some of the results are negative, while others are pending,” Pate said.

He added that the government would continue to provide Nigerians with updates as new information emerged.

According to the minister, genomic analysis was conducted using laboratory infrastructure at the NCDC and facilities associated with Professor Christian Happi at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.

“The case appears to be closely related to the case identified in the index case in Kenya,” he said.

“That is all we can say at this stage based on the genomic analysis. No evidence of travel by that index case in Kenya links it to Nigeria, but the viruses appear to be related.”

Pate said the finding could influence further investigations into the origin and transmission of the infection but cautioned that the available evidence was insufficient to establish the precise route through which the virus reached Nigeria.

The development comes amid an ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, a rare strain of Ebola, which has affected several African countries.

The World Health Organisation reported on October 20 that Nigeria had confirmed one imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, following the patient’s recent travel from Uganda. The agency also reported cases in Kenya linked to an imported infection.

Nigeria’s index patient, a woman, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical care at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare initially reported that 44 close contacts had been identified for monitoring as authorities worked to establish the likely source of the infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history.

Speaking on the response measures, Idris said the NCDC was strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management and risk communication through its incident management system.

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He said the agency was also reinforcing infection prevention and control procedures in health facilities and preparing healthcare workers to identify and manage suspected cases.

“We are also enhancing infection prevention and control protocols for health workers because that is very important,” Idris said.

He added that training would be conducted to ensure that healthcare workers could protect themselves when assessing patients and respond appropriately when suspected cases were identified.

“All hospitals should be sensitised, and health workers should be aware of the appropriate procedures. When there are suspected cases, they should notify public health authorities,” the NCDC chief said.

Idris also urged Nigerians to observe basic hygiene measures, including regular handwashing, while relying on information from credible public health authorities.

“Ebola is a disease that is, so far, not transmitted through the airborne route. It is transmitted through close contact with body fluids,” he said.

He warned against the spread of misinformation on social media, urging the public to obtain information from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The director-general said the agency would continue to work with public health professionals across the country to strengthen preparedness and prevent further transmission.

Pate, meanwhile, reassured Nigerians that the country had the public health infrastructure and expertise required to respond to the outbreak.

“We are reassuring Nigerians that we will continue to work diligently to ensure that we contain this virus as much as possible, and that we avoid a situation where it spills over into communities,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant but calm, stressing that preventive measures and cooperation with public health authorities were essential to containing the infection.

The WHO has advised countries to maintain strong disease surveillance, rapidly investigate suspected cases, strengthen laboratory testing and ensure that health facilities have adequate infection prevention and control measures. It has also called for heightened monitoring at points of entry and continued preparedness as the regional outbreak evolves.

Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is symptomatic, or with contaminated materials. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.

Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after the virus was introduced into Lagos by an infected traveller. The experience highlighted the importance of rapid case identification, contact tracing, isolation and coordinated public health action.

The Federal Government has urged public and private health facilities to maintain a high level of vigilance, promptly isolate suspected cases and immediately notify public health authorities of any suspected infection.