Nigeria confirms first Ebola case, the first in West Africa this outbreak
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Nigeria has reported an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja. WHO says 44 contacts are being monitored as officials work to trace where the patient was infected.
Developing story: Details of the case and the outbreak are still emerging.
Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the same virus behind the large outbreak in DR Congo, according to Africanews. It is Nigeria's first case and the first reported in West Africa in this outbreak, and the fourth African country affected.
Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya told RFI that the patient is a woman who returned to Abuja from Uganda on 3 October, developed symptoms on 6 October, was admitted to hospital on 11 October and was diagnosed on Monday. The WHO said 44 contacts have been identified and are being monitored for 21 days.
Where she caught the virus is not yet established. Mr Kaseya's account points to Uganda, but Uganda's health ministry denies this and says she travelled to eastern DR Congo and only passed through Uganda, according to RFI. WHO's Nigeria representative said the information given to the agency mentioned only Uganda.
WHO regional director for Africa Mohamed Janabi told a briefing on Thursday that the continent faces "a more complex outbreak landscape." Kenya has reported nine cases since 6 October.
RFI, citing US CDC figures to Wednesday, reported 9,735 confirmed cases and 4,690 deaths, mostly in DR Congo. Bundibugyo has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Mr Kaseya said "no country is safe unless we strengthen surveillance."