KEY POINTS

• The NCDC confirmed that the FCT Ebola patient is a diplomat whose condition has deteriorated into multi-organ failure.

• The woman arrived from Uganda and was diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain after receiving treatment at a private hospital.

• Health officials have identified 44 close contacts and begun monitoring them to prevent further transmission.

Nigeria’s health authorities have confirmed that the woman diagnosed with Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a diplomat whose condition has deteriorated into multi-organ failure.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed the development on Wednesday, October 21, as officials intensified efforts to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.

The patient was diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare form of the disease that can cause severe illness. An official at an emergency incident management meeting in Abuja confirmed that the patient was a diplomat but did not disclose her nationality.

The development has heightened concerns among health authorities because the patient recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and received treatment at a private hospital in the FCT before the diagnosis was confirmed.

Health Minister Ali Pate said the woman arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda before becoming ill and seeking medical attention.

She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before laboratory testing confirmed Ebola.

Following the diagnosis, the patient was placed in isolation and continued to receive medical care, according to the minister.

Olajumoke Babatunde, NCDC director of public health laboratory services, said the agency conducted three levels of testing, all using molecular methods, to identify the virus strain.

The tests confirmed the Bundibugyo strain, which has also been associated with a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The reported deterioration into multi-organ failure indicates that the patient is critically ill. However, the authorities did not provide further details about her treatment or prognosis.

NCDC identifies 44 close contacts

The federal government said public health teams had identified 44 close contacts linked to the confirmed case as part of efforts to prevent the virus from spreading.

The contacts include people who may have encountered the patient during her illness or treatment, such as healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

Health officials are tracing and monitoring those who may have been exposed to determine whether anyone develops symptoms and requires further assessment.

The Health Ministry and NCDC are working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to coordinate the response.

Contact tracing is an important part of controlling Ebola outbreaks because it helps health teams identify people who may have been exposed and monitor them for signs of infection. The identification of 44 contacts does not mean those individuals have contracted the virus.

Authorities had not announced any additional confirmed cases in the information provided in the report.

Bundibugyo virus disease is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a member of the orthoebolavirus group. The strain was first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007.

Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, or through contact with contaminated objects and materials.

It does not typically spread through casual contact with someone who is not infected. People should nevertheless follow official public health guidance and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.

Symptoms can include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, bleeding. These symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, so anyone who suspects exposure should seek medical guidance rather than attempt to diagnose the infection independently.

The confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain makes accurate laboratory testing, prompt isolation, contact tracing and coordination among health agencies particularly important.

Nigeria’s immediate priority is to monitor the identified contacts, maintain appropriate infection-control measures and prevent further transmission while the patient receives treatment.