Ebola returns to Nigeria after decade as Abuja residents express fear and doubt
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria reports an imported Ebola case involving a woman who recently arrived from Uganda.
- Health authorities begin contact tracing while the patient receives treatment in isolation in Abuja.
- Some Nigerians express concern and scepticism as officials assure the public that the infection can be contained.
Health authorities confirm an imported Ebola case in Abuja and begin monitoring 44 close contacts, while residents question the outbreak and officials urge the public not to panic.
Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade, raising concerns among residents in Abuja as health authorities begin contact tracing to prevent the virus from spreading.
The case was confirmed on Tuesday in the Federal Capital Territory after a woman who recently arrived on an international flight from Uganda tested positive for the virus.
The patient is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in Abuja, while authorities have identified 44 close contacts for monitoring.
The contacts include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have been exposed during travel.
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The confirmation has generated mixed reactions among residents, with some expressing fears about the country's ability to manage another health emergency.
"Concerning the Ebola outbreak and as the present situation of the country isn't friendly, we pray to almighty God to help us clear off the disease and all those things that are coming up," said Abuja resident Haruna Zakaria.
Another resident, Nuhu Suleman, said he only became aware of the reported case after arriving in the city.
"I am not on social media since yesterday. I am not on my phone. So reaching inside town this morning, I heard that there is Ebola everywhere," he added.
However, not everyone is convinced about the reported infection.
Chinedu Ojulwu, another Abuja resident, questioned the information provided about the patient and the location of her treatment.
"We didn't see the person, we didn't see where the person is hospitalised. We didn't even know the hospital where we can trace the Ebola patient," he said.
Before the diagnosis, Nigerian health officials had already strengthened surveillance measures to identify imported infections and prevent further transmission.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other health authorities are now monitoring the patient's contacts for symptoms while investigating whether additional infections have occurred.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. It does not spread through ordinary airborne transmission.
Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has assured the public that the country has the necessary capacity to contain the infection.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and follow public health guidance without panicking.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
