Nigeria has stepped up efforts to contain its newly confirmed Ebola case in Abuja, with health authorities tracing 44 contacts and seeking international support to prevent further transmission.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the government was working with local and international partners to strengthen its response to the infection.
Pate disclosed that the affected woman, who arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said countries, including Indonesia, had offered assistance, while Nigerian public health officials were drawing on their experience in managing the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
The minister added that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has the laboratory capacity required to detect the virus, while authorities are collaborating with aviation officials to obtain passenger records and identify others who may have been exposed.
According to Pate, the woman did not show symptoms during her journey but became ill after arriving in Nigeria. The 44 identified contacts are being monitored under public health measures, including quarantine where required.
He also emphasised the need for accurate travel histories when assessing suspected cases, particularly among people who have recently visited affected areas, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Uganda.
Symptoms associated with Ebola may include headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches. The disease can be life-threatening, but early detection, prompt medical care and effective public health measures are essential to improving outcomes and limiting transmission.
