Nigeria’s only confirmed Ebola case has been linked genetically to the strain detected in Kenya’s index case, following genomic analysis of the virus, the Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, has said.
Pate disclosed this on Friday, October 23, saying the analysis had established a close genetic relationship between the virus detected in Nigeria and the strain identified in Kenya. The finding provides the first genetic link between the two cases, although authorities have not established a direct connection between them.
Nigerian authorities stressed that there was currently no evidence that Kenya’s index case had travelled to Nigeria or had any direct contact with the person who tested positive in the country.
The Nigerian case involved a traveller who had visited Uganda before testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease. Health officials are continuing investigations to determine how the infection occurred and whether other people may have been exposed.
According to Pate, authorities are tracing, quarantining and testing people who may have had contact with the confirmed case. Some test results have returned negative, while others were still being awaited as investigations continued.
Nigeria has so far recorded only one confirmed Ebola case in the current outbreak, with health authorities maintaining surveillance and contact-tracing measures to prevent further transmission.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Ministry of Health said on Friday that the country remained Ebola-free but was strengthening precautionary measures following the case reported in Nigeria.
Uganda shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the outbreak began, and has previously dealt with Ebola outbreaks. The country is taking additional steps to monitor travellers and reduce the risk of the virus entering its territory.
Uganda’s health ministry announced that traveller locator forms had been reinstated for everyone arriving in the country, regardless of their country of origin. The forms are intended to help authorities trace travellers and follow up with them if necessary.
The ministry also said travellers with a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo would not be permitted to transit through Uganda as part of its strengthened precautionary measures.
Health authorities in Nigeria and neighbouring countries continue to monitor the situation, with contact tracing, testing and travel screening forming key parts of efforts to contain the outbreak.
