Africa CDC convenes crisis summit as Nigeria reports first Ebola case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 13:32 · Archive

Nigeria has reported its first case of Ebola, linked to a traveler from Uganda, as the Africa CDC calls a crisis summit.

Nigeria has reported its first confirmed case of Ebola, linked to a traveler from Uganda who arrived in the country on 5 October. The patient, a foreign national, was initially treated for malaria symptoms but failed to recover, prompting physicians to suspect Ebola. Odianosen Ehiakhamen, an assistant director at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, said the 44 contacts being traced are mostly healthcare workers but also include the patient's spouse, a Swiss national.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has invited African health ministers to an extraordinary virtual meeting on 28 October to discuss the spread of Ebola. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the organisation's director general, said the meeting would 'strengthen our collective response.' Nigeria and Kenya, which has recorded nine cases, are the latest countries to report cases linked to travellers who passed through Uganda. Uganda declared itself Ebola-free in July after recording 20 cases but has denied claims that Nigeria's first case originated there.

The outbreak, first detected in Congo in May after spreading undetected for months, has since infected more than 9,500 people and killed nearly half of them, making it the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history.

How it is being reported

• Africa CDC calls an Ebola crisis summit as Nigeria records its first caseAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has invited health ministers to an “extraordinary virtual meeting” as Ebola spreads across the continent.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 12:04
• Africa CDC calls an Ebola crisis summit as Nigeria records its first caseAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has invited health ministers to an “extraordinary virtual meeting” as Ebola spreads across the continent.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 12:04

In this story: Nigeria · Uganda · Congo · Kenya · Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention · Jean Kaseya

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