Nigeria reports its first Ebola case as the outbreak spreads to three African nations, with a woman arriving from Uganda testing positive. The case marks a potential threat to Nigeria's recent Ebola-free status and highlights the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed the case, stating the patient, a woman who arrived from Uganda, is in isolation and receiving medical care. Contact tracing has begun, with 44 contacts identified, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to contain the outbreak.
The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has led to over 9,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,300 deaths, making it the second-largest on record. Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya are all affected, with Kenya reporting nine cases linked to a single patient who traveled from Congo.
Uganda, which was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization in August, reported 20 cases earlier this year. Nigeria's confirmation of the first case could jeopardize its recent status, prompting concerns about the virus's rapid spread across the continent.