Ebola Patient In Nigeria Is Ugandan-Born, Arrived Abuja October 3 — Africa CDC
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has disclosed that the index patient diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in Nigeria is Ugandan-born and arrived in the Federal Capital Territory with her husband on October 3, 2026
The Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, who stated this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, said that though the regional agency was in talks with Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on ways to contain the outbreak, there was a need for the patient in Nigeria to provide relevant information to the authorities to avoid a crisis between African countries.
“I am talking to all authorities — with Nigerian authorities, with Ugandan authorities, even to DRC authorities. But we are lucky that this person we know today, without any doubt, is a Ugandan-born person who went to Uganda and she was there for some days. Then the husband flew to join her in Uganda then they came back to Abuja on October 3. This is a fact,” said Kaseya.
“Now, what we want is collaboration from this person, the lady. She has to disclose to the authorities. I need this information as Nigeria needs this information because we need also to support Uganda. She needs to tell us if, first, she flew to the DRC. Second, if she went out of Kampala; third, if she was in contact with someone who came from the DRC.
“I think this is the information we are looking for. It will help all of us to avoid crisis between African countries.”
‘We’re Not In Panic Mode’
The Africa CDC DG, however, noted that the continent is now “well prepared” to address any public health issue.
While pushing back on claims that Ebola is an African problem, he said that it would be a mistake to assume that anyone in the world is safe.
Kaseya, who disclosed that the Bundibugyo strain of the virus is the most geographically widespread, affecting West, Southern and East Africa, assured that the continent is not in a panic mode, as it knows what must be done
No Vaccine Yet For Bundibugyo Strain
The Africa CDC DG said some partners consider Ebola an African issue, as “if this outbreak was in Western countries, vaccines would already be available”.
He, however, said that the agency had initiated clinical trials of new vaccines, including a new Bundibugyo vaccine manufactured in Egypt.
Kaseya also noted that the agency had worked with the DRC and Uganda to bring the Zaire vaccine for clinical trials and compassionate use.
“We don’t want to see Africa left behind again. We have the knowledge. We have people with intelligence,” he said. “We have capacity to manufacture vaccines; we need to move on. This is also the case for medicine and diagnostics.”
The Federal Government on Tuesday confirmed a case of the Ebola virus in the Federal Capital Territory, saying that the patient’s symptoms progressed four days after she arrived from Uganda, though the Ugandan authorities said there was no outbreak of the disease in the East African country.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, told journalists in Abuja that while the patient had been placed in isolation and was receiving medical care, contact tracing had commenced, with 44 contacts already identified.
Pate also said that surveillance had been strengthened at Nigeria’s entry points.
The National Assembly urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to contain the spread of the virus.
The Senate on Wednesday called for the provision of emergency funding from the service-wide vote to strengthen the country’s disease surveillance system and enforce mandatory health screening at all international airports, seaports and designated land borders to prevent the spread of Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.
Similarly, the House of Representatives called for increased public awareness as well as early preparation of isolation camps following confirmation of a fresh outbreak in the FCT.
Already, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to place 46 people identified as contacts of an Ebola-affected patient on a no-fly list for at least 21 days.
