Nigerian health authorities have confirmed an Ebola infection in a patient who recently arrived in Abuja from Uganda, triggering immediate contact tracing efforts.

The Nigerian government confirmed on Tuesday that a female patient has tested positive for Ebola in the capital, Abuja. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate stated that the woman arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and was admitted to a private hospital for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

Response and Contact Tracing

Health officials have initiated contact tracing to monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, including healthcare workers, caregivers, and fellow travelers. Minister Pate confirmed that 44 close contacts have been identified so far. Africa's top public health agency, led by Jean Kaseya, has begun mobilizing support for Nigeria to assist in the response. Minister Pate expressed confidence in the country's ability to manage the situation, citing Nigeria's successful containment of an Ebola outbreak in 2014. He emphasized that the nation possesses the necessary public health systems to address the current case.

Regional Context and Disputed Origins

The confirmed case comes amid a broader regional health crisis involving the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. While Nigerian officials stated the patient traveled from Uganda, Ugandan government spokesperson Alan Kasujja disputed the link, stating, "There's no Ebola in Uganda." The World Health Organization had previously declared Uganda free of the virus in August after an earlier cluster of cases was contained. Public health experts note that the current Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become the most geographically extensive in history, affecting countries across three African regions. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also been dealing with a significant epidemic since mid-May, and Kenya recently reported nine cases linked to travel from that country.