Nigeria is facing a significant test of its outbreak preparedness, as the country confirms its first Ebola case in 12 years. The patient, who recently returned from Uganda, is being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Abuja. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the patient tested positive for Ebola on Thursday, October 21st. The strain of the virus matches that of an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about potential cross-border transmission. Businessday NG reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has postponed its contractors’ conference, scheduled to hold in Abuja this week, due to the confirmed Ebola case. The NNPC, in a statement, said the decision was taken ‘to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all conference participants’. BBC reported that the patient had been on holiday in Uganda before falling ill. Nigeria last experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014, when 8,701 cases were reported, and 1,806 people died, according to the World Health Organization. The country was declared Ebola-free in May 2015. As the latest case emerged, the Nigerian government has activated its emergency operations centre and put in place measures to contain the virus. The NCDC has urged the public not to panic, but to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to health authorities.
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