The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, has urged Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola patient to provide a complete account of her recent travels and contacts in Uganda to help investigators determine the source of the infection.
Kaseya said the information would assist Nigerian and Ugandan health authorities in tracing possible exposure routes and preventing further transmission.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, he disclosed that the woman, who was born in Uganda but resides in Abuja, had spent several days in her home country before her husband, a diplomat, joined her. The couple subsequently returned to Nigeria on October 3.
According to Kaseya, investigators are seeking details of the woman’s movements, including whether she travelled outside Kampala or had contact with anyone who might have been exposed to the virus.
He stressed that her cooperation was essential to establishing how she contracted the disease and supporting investigations across the region.
Kaseya also said the Africa CDC was working with relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the infection and determine whether the woman could have been exposed during travel to other locations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He noted that accurate information about her travel history and contacts would strengthen collaboration between the countries involved and help prevent misunderstandings over the possible source of infection.
The Africa CDC chief called for transparency and cooperation, saying the information would benefit both Nigeria and Uganda as health authorities continue investigations into the case.
