BREAKING: NIGERIA CONFIRMS EBOLA CASE IN ABUJA AS 44 Contacts ARE IDENTIFIED

Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola virus disease case in Abuja, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance and begin tracing people who may have been exposed to the infection. The Federal Government confirmed the case on October 20, following laboratory testing of a female patient with a recent travel history involving Uganda. The patient has been isolated and is receiving medical care. Health officials have identified 44 contacts and commenced monitoring as part of efforts to prevent further transmission. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant agencies, is coordinating the national response, the authorities are working to establish the patient’s movements, identify individuals who may have been exposed and ensure that suspected cases are promptly investigated. Healthcare facilities have also been urged to maintain vigilance and follow appropriate infection prevention and control procedures, the response is particularly important because the patient travelled internationally before the infection was confirmed. Ebola is a serious viral disease that can cause severe illness. It is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is symptomatic, or through contaminated materials, the disease does not spread through the air in the same way as influenza or measles. Members of the public should avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease and seek medical attention if they develop concerning symptoms after a possible exposure, people should also avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic.The development has prompted renewed regional attention, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention scheduling an extraordinary virtual meeting of African health ministers for October 28, the meeting is expected to address regional coordination and measures to strengthen the response to the outbreak. Nigeria previously experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014, when coordinated surveillance, contact tracing and public health interventions played important roles in containing the disease. Authorities are now working to ensure that the current case does not lead to further transmission. The immediate priority is to monitor the identified contacts, protect healthcare workers and determine whether additional cases emerge, the identification of 44 contacts does not mean that all 44 people are infected. Contact tracing is a precautionary measure designed to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed. Nigerians are advised to follow official updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention as investigations continue.