Uganda says Ebola patient who arrived in FCT is a Nigerian, insists it has no active cases

Uganda’s ministry of health says it has no confirmed active Ebola cases, adding that the lady diagnosed with the disease in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is a Nigerian who travelled through Uganda.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Charles Olaro, its director-general of health services, the ministry said the woman had travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for business and transited through Uganda in early October.

According to the ministry, she showed no symptoms while in Uganda but developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria.

The ministry said the woman’s transit through Uganda did not establish that she contracted the virus in the country, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine where she was exposed.

“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry said.

“The Government of Nigeria is yet to provide detailed information on her travel itinerary and clinical history which will guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.

“We wish to clarify that, as at the time of this statement, Uganda has NO confirmed active Ebola cases.”

The Ugandan government said it had maintained limited provisions for humanitarian and diplomatic movement, adding that it would strengthen screening and public health controls at points of entry.

The ministry urged the public to remain calm, stay vigilant and practise regular handwashing and sanitising.

The development follows Nigeria’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the FCT.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said on Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed the infection in a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

Pate said the patient had been admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.

“She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care,” he said.

The minister said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring.

In October, Kenyan authorities confirmed the country’s first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.