The Federal Government and state governments have intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness after a diplomat diagnosed with Ebola in Abuja deteriorated into multi-organ failure.
The patient, a female diplomat whose name and nationality have not been disclosed, was confirmed to be infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease.
The Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Olajumoke Babatunde, gave the update at an emergency meeting of the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.
Babatunde said three levels of molecular tests were conducted to confirm the strain, which is the same strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” she said.
The NCDC disclosed that the woman arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory on October 11 after failing to respond to malaria treatment.
Following confirmation of the case on October 20, the Federal Government placed 46 persons who had contact with the patient on a 21-day no-fly list. The contacts include 44 hospital staff and two domestic workers.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has been directed to notify airlines to prevent the contacts from travelling by air pending monitoring.
Meanwhile, several states have activated emergency measures. Anambra State said it followed up 40 persons of interest, cleared 33 and is still monitoring seven, while Ogun State is tracing 111 persons and Niger State has activated its Emergency Operations Centre.
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