Uganda’s Ministry of Health has called on the public to remain calm and vigilant following Nigeria’s confirmation of an Ebola case, stressing that the infected woman’s transit through Uganda does not mean she contracted the virus in the country.
In a public statement, the ministry said preliminary findings showed that the Nigerian woman travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for business before passing through Uganda in early October.
According to the ministry, she reportedly showed no symptoms while in Uganda but became ill after arriving in Nigeria, where she was subsequently confirmed to have Ebola.
The ministry noted that investigations were ongoing to determine where the woman was exposed to the virus, adding that passing through Uganda alone was not enough to establish the source of the infection.
Meanwhile, Nigerian health authorities have intensified response efforts following confirmation of the case in the Federal Capital Territory, with contact tracing underway to identify individuals who may have been exposed.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, confirmed the case on Tuesday. The patient is currently receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in the FCT.
Authorities have also identified 44 close contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have had contact with the patient during travel, as part of efforts to contain the potential spread of the virus.
