In brief
A 42‑year‑old Ugandan‑born woman living in Abuja has become Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola patient in more than ten years. She is the wife of a Swiss diplomat whose husband is isolated but symptom‑free. Health officials suspect the virus was contracted during a recent trip to Uganda, and investigations are underway to connect the case to a Kenyan man who died of Ebola after passing through Uganda. Genomic sequencing and contact tracing are in progress while the patient shows signs of improvement under WHO‑approved treatment.
On 20 October, a 42‑year‑old Ugandan‑born woman living in Abuja became Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola patient in more than a decade. Authorities said she is the wife of a Swiss diplomat who is currently in isolation but remains symptom‑free.
The pair had travelled to Uganda earlier that month. Evidence points to the virus having been contracted in Uganda, though health officials are still piecing together the exact exposure point.
The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that none of the 25 staff at its embassy in Lagos were infected and no isolation was required, following consultations with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
Investigators are also examining a possible link to a Kenyan man who died of Ebola after travelling through Uganda and arriving in Nairobi on 3 October. Genomic sequencing is underway to determine whether the strain matches that seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s recent outbreak.
She is currently receiving treatment in isolation and is showing signs of improvement, WHO officials reported. Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control is tracing additional contacts beyond the initial 44 identified.
Experts warn that porous borders between Uganda and the DRC make screening difficult, urging regional vigilance and reinforced surveillance. The case underscores the importance of swift contact tracing and early treatment for preventing further spread.
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