A correction has emerged over the nationality of a woman who tested positive for Ebola in Nigeria, with Dr Ayoade Alakija, a World Health Organisation Special Envoy, clarifying that the patient is Ugandan and not Nigerian as earlier reported by Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
In a post on X, Dr Alakija stated that the patient is a Ugandan national who travelled to Abuja, Nigeria, from Uganda.
Her clarification followed a statement issued by Uganda’s Ministry of Health on October 20, which described the patient as a Nigerian woman who had travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for business before transiting through Uganda.
The ministry said the woman passed through Uganda in early October without symptoms before developing them after arriving in Nigeria.
It stressed that transit through Uganda did not establish that the infection occurred in the country, adding that the source of exposure remained under investigation.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed Ebola virus disease infection in Bundibugyo on October 20 following laboratory testing.
The patient reportedly developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11. She is currently isolated and receiving medical care.
Nigerian health authorities have identified 44 contacts who are being monitored for possible symptoms. At the same time, infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened at the facility where the patient initially sought treatment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has also activated its incident management system to coordinate the response.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has maintained that the country has no confirmed active Ebola cases, noting that investigations are ongoing to establish where the patient was exposed to the virus.
The development comes amid heightened regional concern over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain, with Kenya reporting nine cases linked to an imported infection in recent weeks.
Uganda was declared Ebola-free in July after its previous outbreak was brought under control.
The differing accounts of the patient’s nationality highlight the need for further clarification from the relevant health authorities as investigations continue into her travel history and the source of infection.
