Nigeria confirms first Ebola case as outbreak spreads across Africa

Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in the latest outbreak sweeping Africa, as Kenya reported its ninth infection and health officials warned of a growing regional threat. Nigerian Health Minister said Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed an imported case in a woman who travelled from Uganda to the capital, Abuja. We are confirming that there has been one imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory. The laboratory confirmation was received today, a re-confirmation. That was an initial positive test, but it was re-confirmed because we have laboratory capacity to be able to test it. The minister said the woman began experiencing symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private medical facility four days later. She is now in isolation and receiving medical care. The patient is a woman who had travel history to Eastern Africa, in Uganda in particular, and came back, had symptoms that commenced on the 7th of October. On the 11th, she attended a private facility where she was being taken care of. Her symptoms progressed, and further tests indicated that she had the Ebola virus disease. She is in isolation and she is receiving quality medical care. Nigerian authorities said contact tracing was underway with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring.