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Tag: Ebola

  • Nigeria boosts Ebola alert as outbreak hits DRC

    Nigeria boosts Ebola alert as outbreak hits DRC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) assured Nigerians there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

    This statement comes amid reports of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, said in a public health advisory issued Saturday in Abuja that Nigeria was on high alert, enhancing surveillance at entry points, healthcare facilities, and communities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s only Ebola outbreak occurred in 2014, when the virus was imported from Liberia by a traveler, resulting in 20 cases and eight deaths before successful containment.

    The DRC Ministry of Health confirmed 28 suspected Ebola cases and 15 deaths on Sept. 4 in Kasai Province, including four health workers, identifying the Ebola Zaire strain as the outbreak’s cause.

    The outbreak has spread across Bulape and Mweka health zones and recorded a mortality rate of 57 per cent, raising concerns over the disease’s high fatality and potential for further spread.

    According to Idris, there are currently no cases of Ebola in Nigeria, but preparedness has been intensified with infection control, border checks, and community risk communication to prevent importation and transmission.

    He noted the DRC activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and deployed a rapid response team, receiving support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to contain the outbreak effectively.

    Idris said the Ebola Zaire strain identified had an approved vaccine, Ervebo, which had been proven effective in controlling outbreaks and protecting vulnerable populations in affected regions.

    To protect Nigerians, he urged frequent handwashing with soap and water as regular hygiene, a key preventive measure to reduce transmission risk from contact with infected surfaces or individuals.

    He advised avoiding physical contact with anyone showing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding, which were common signs of Ebola infection and warranted immediate medical attention.

    Idris warned against consuming raw or undercooked bushmeat and cautioned against contact with fruit bats, monkeys, and apes, which were known reservoirs for the Ebola virus in wildlife.

    He encouraged Nigerians to report suspected Ebola cases or unusual illnesses, especially among those with recent travel to affected areas, by calling the NCDC toll-free line 6232 for prompt response.

    Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, strictly follow infection prevention protocols, and report any suspected cases immediately to aid rapid containment and treatment efforts.

    Idris further issued travel advice, urging Nigerians to avoid all but essential trips to countries currently experiencing Ebola outbreaks to minimise the risk of exposure and disease importation.

    He assured the public that NCDC would provide timely updates while collaborating with international partners to monitor the evolving situation in the DRC and other affected African regions.

  • Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak

    Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak

    Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the outbreak is concentrated in the Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province, in the south-central region of the country.

    To rapidly scale up the response, an advance team from the country’s Ministry of Health and the global UN health body, WHO, has been deployed.

    Symptoms of the rare, but severe, and often fatal illness, include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhaging.

    Samples tested on September 3 at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as the Ebola Zaire strain.

    A national Rapid Response Team assisted by WHO experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, as well as case management, has been deployed to Kasai province.

    Communication experts have also been deployed to reach communities and help them understand how to protect themselves.

    Additionally, WHO is delivering two tonnes of essential supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies.

    The area is difficult to reach and at least a day’s drive from the provincial capital Tshikapa, with few air links.

    “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said.

    “Banking on the country’s long-standing expertise in controlling viral disease outbreaks, we’re working closely with the health authorities to quickly scale up key response measures to end the outbreak as soon as possible.”

    WHO said case numbers are likely to increase as transmission is ongoing.

    The country has a stockpile of treatments, as well as 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine already prepositioned in the capital city Kinshasa.

    The stockpile will be quickly moved to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers, according  to  WHO .

    The DRC’s last outbreak affected the northwestern Equateur province in April 2022.

    It was brought under control in under three months, thanks to the robust efforts of the health authorities.

    In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008.

    In the country overall, there have been 15 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976.

  • NCDC opens up on readiness as Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak

    NCDC opens up on readiness as Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the country on high alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda. Dr Jide Idris, the Director‐General, said this on Sunday in an interview in Abuja.

    EVD is a rare but severe illness caused by viruses of the genus Ebolavirus. First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the disease has led to multiple outbreaks across Africa.

    Ebola spreads to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, and porcupines.

    Human-to-human transmission occurs via direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or materials like bedding and clothing.

    Healthcare workers and family members are particularly at risk when caring for infected patients without proper protective measures.

    Jide said that although the country has no reported cases of Ebola, the agency, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has activated heightened surveillance measures to prevent importation of the virus into the country.

    He said that the outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the virus, was confirmed by Uganda’s Ministry of Health on January 30, 2025, with one reported case and one death in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District.

    “Ugandan health authorities are currently tracking 44 contacts to curb further spread,” he said.

    He disclosed that in response to the development, the NCDC has: “Updated its EVD emergency contingency plan. Increased screening at points of entry, particularly international airports.

    “Optimised diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories and mobilised Lassa fever testing laboratories, which can be scaled up for Ebola testing if needed.”

    The director Director general of NCDC assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.

    “While there is no immediate cause for panic, we must remain vigilant. The Ebola Sudan strain has no approved vaccine, making early detection and containment critical,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to adhere to the following preventive measures:” Practice good hand hygiene – Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.

    “Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

    “Refrain from consuming bushmeat, especially bats and primates. Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”

    Additionally, he advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.

    While the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended travel restrictions, he advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to countries with confirmed Ebola cases.

    “Travelers returning from affected countries in the last 21 days with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding should immediately call the NCDC toll-free number (6232) or their State Ministry of Health hotline,” he advised.

    Beyond Ebola, he said that the country is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles, and anthrax.

    He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening surveillance and response efforts across the country.

    “Nigerians are encouraged to stay informed and follow official updates from the NCDC through its hotline (6232), social media platforms (@NCDCgov), and official website,” he added.

    Recall that the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Initial symptoms include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.

    As the disease progresses, individuals may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

    Laboratory findings often show low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

    Ebola is often fatal, with case fatality rates varying from 25 per cent to 90 per cent in past outbreaks, depending on factors such as the virus strain and the effectiveness of response efforts.

    The average case fatality rate is around 50 per cent.

    Effective outbreak control relies on a combination of interventions, including case management, surveillance and contact tracing, good laboratory service, safe burials, and social mobilization.

    Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks.

    Raising awareness of risk factors and protective measures, such as practising good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with infected individuals, and safe burial practices, are essential.

    There is an FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of the Ebola virus (species Zaire ortho-ebolavirus).

    However, vaccines for other strains, such as the Sudan strain, are still under development.

    Supportive care—rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids—and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival.

    Early supportive care with rehydration, and symptomatic treatment improves survival.

    A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies, are currently being evaluated.

  • Congo fighting puts lab containing Ebola virus at risk

    Congo fighting puts lab containing Ebola virus at risk

    The Red Cross has warned of an unimaginable consequences if a biomedical laboratory in the embattled city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not protected.

    The organisation gave the warning on Tuesday in Geneva that, among other things, samples of the highly dangerous Ebola virus were stored there.

    Patrick Youssef, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) regional director for Africa, said that the laboratory which is run by the National Institute for Biomedical Research was at risk of power cuts.

    The laboratory is located near the ICRC’s office in Goma. It is imperative that the virus does not escape from the laboratory, Youssef said.

    Ebola is a contagious and life-threatening infectious disease. The virus is transmitted through physical contact and contact with bodily fluids.

    There have been repeated outbreaks in Congo and other countries in Central and East Africa, in 2014 to 2015, more than 11,000 people died in an outbreak in West Africa.

    According to Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, mortality rates can be as high as 90 per cent if infected people are not treated immediately.

    Rebels and the army are fighting in Goma, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) is warning of cholera outbreaks as people have no access to clean drinking water and sanitation is inadequate.

  • Ebola is cause of tomato scarcity – Agriculture minister

    Ebola is cause of tomato scarcity – Agriculture minister

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has disclosed that the rise in the price of tomatoes is a result of an infestation known as Tomato Ebola, which reduced its availability.

    Kyari stated this in a post on X.com while responding to a user who asked that something be done as “the cost of tomatoes is out of control; it’s like they are charging us per seed.”

    In his post, the minister wrote, “A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.”

    Kyari added that the ministry has outlined plans to combat the issue, which include deploying agricultural experts to affected areas to control and eliminate the infestation and supporting farmers with resources and guidance to recover their crops quickly.

    “We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time, he added.”

    Recall that in May that the prices of basic food commodities such as rice, beans, maize, plantains, and tomatoes surged by 25.34 per cent to 40.01 percent as of March 2024.

  • NCDC cautions Nigerians against non-essential travel to Uganda

    NCDC cautions Nigerians against non-essential travel to Uganda

    Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday cautioned Nigerians and other residents against embarking on non-essential travel to Uganda for now.

    The NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, gave the caution in a statement he signed on Monday in Abuja.

    He stated that the warning is to enable public health authorities to determine how Ebola outbreak will be contained.

    As at Oct. 29, 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported 128 confirmed cases and 34 deaths.

    Adetifa cautioned that when travelling to Uganda became essential, travellers should avoid contact with obviously sick persons or suspected cases of Ebola.

    He said that the Port Health Service of the Federal Ministry of Health had scaled-up screening of passengers returning from Uganda at Points of Entry (POEs).

    The NDCD boss said “travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to Uganda or persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to
    or transit through Uganda within the past 21 days are to look out for symptoms.

    “Symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call 6232 or state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing.

    “Such persons should not visit health facilities by themselves to avoid further spread through the shared transport system (public or private).

    “They would be visited at home by dedicated responders for assessment and transported through designated transport arrangement to designated treatment centre when required.

    “Intending travellers to Nigeria with the above-stated symptoms before departure, should not travel to Nigeria, but call to report promptly to Port Health Authorities and/or designated health authorities in the country of departure for testing and care,” he said.

    He added that in-bound travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to or through Uganda without symptoms on departure but unwell while on transit, should be denied contact with other people.

    Adetifa said such people are required to report to Port Health Service on arrival.

    “Travellers with travel history to Uganda who show no symptoms on arrival should provide accurate information on the NITP platform to ensure follow-up from health workers.

    “If any of the earlier-mentioned symptoms develop anytime within 21 days of arrival to Nigeria, please self-isolate immediately by staying indoors. Avoid contact with others, including immediate family.

    “Call the NCDC 24/7 toll-free line immediately on 6232 or the emergency number of the state ministry of health.”

    According to him, early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly improve outcomes, including reduced deaths.

    The director-general said that local or international travel is not recommended until the completion of the 21-day follow-up period, adding that
    “to prevent the spread of Ebola, the public should adhere to necessary precautionary measures.

    “Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or use hand sanitisers when soap and water are not readily available and your hand is not visibly soiled.

    “Avoid physical contact with anyone who has symptoms of an infection with unknown diagnosis.

    “Healthcare workers are advised to always adhere to standard precautions. This includes the use of Personal Protective Equipment always when
    handling patients, and always maintaining high index of suspicion.”

  • Uganda confirms 9 more Ebola cases in Kampala

    Uganda confirms 9 more Ebola cases in Kampala

    An alarming increase of Ebola in the capital of Ugandan, Kampala, has been reported by the country’s officials, as Nine people in the metropolitan area tested positive on Sunday.

    Uganda’s Health Minister, Jane Ruth Aceng, on Monday, explained that this was in addition to two others on Friday.

    Recall that there had been a disturbing increase in infections, just over a month, after an outbreak was declared in a remote part of the East African country.

    A top official of the World Health Organization, WHO, in Africa said last week that Uganda’s Ebola outbreak was “rapidly evolving,” describing a challenging situation for health workers.

    Ugandan health authorities have confirmed 75 cases of Ebola since Sept. 20, including 28 deaths. There are 19 active cases.

    There is no proven vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola circulating in Uganda

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the official numbers did not include those who probably died of Ebola before the outbreak was confirmed in a farming community about 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Kampala.

    Fears that Ebola could spread far from the outbreak’s epicenter compelled authorities to impose an ongoing lockdown, including nighttime curfews, on two of the five districts reporting Ebola cases. The measures were put in place after a man infected with Ebola sought treatment in Kampala and died in a hospital there.

    The nine new cases reported Monday followed a similar pattern as they all are contacts of an Ebola-infected patient who traveled from an Ebola hotspot and sought treatment at Kampala’s top public hospital, known as Mulago.

    There is no proven vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola circulating in Uganda.

    Ugandan officials by Thursday had documented more than 1,800 Ebola contacts, 747 of whom had completed 21 days of monitoring for possible signs of the disease that manifests as viral hemorrhagic fever, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of contagious diseases like Ebola.

    Ebola is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and, at times, internal and external bleeding.

    Scientists do not know the natural reservoir of Ebola, but they suspect the first person infected in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat. Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the current outbreak.

    Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed more than 200 people. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease’s largest death toll.

    Ebola was discovered in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.

  • Nigeria on alert mode as Ebola resurfaces in Uganda

    Nigeria on alert mode as Ebola resurfaces in Uganda

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it is aware of the ongoing outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola Virus (EV) in Uganda.

    The Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Uganda had, on Sept. 20, declared the outbreak of the virus and that it was on an alert mode.

    The outbreak has also been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

    The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus is the known cause of EVD, having caused previous outbreaks in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the virus in samples collected from a 24-year old male, who had exhibited symptoms of the disease and later died in Mubende District in the Central Region, about 175km from the capital, Kampala.

    As of Sept. 29, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported 54 cases (35 confirmed and 19 probable) and 25 deaths (7 confirmed and 18 probable).

    The Ugandan Ministry of Health, with the support of WHO, is working to effectively respond to and contain the spread of the virus.

    The NCDC boss said that the agency’s -led multisectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Technical Working Group (NEVHD TWG), working with partners and stakeholders, had conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities.

    “The NEVHD TWG coordinates preparedness efforts for EVD and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    “Based on available data, the overall risk of importation of the Ebola virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been assessed as high for the following reasons:

    “The Sudan Ebola Virus does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or licensed vaccine for prevention.

    “The extent of the outbreak in Uganda has not yet been ascertained as investigations have shown that some persons may have died with similar symptoms which were not reported to health authorities.

    “In addition, their burials were not conducted safely to prevent transmission.

    “The case fatality rate of the Sudan virus varied from 41 per cent to 100 per cent in past outbreaks.

    “The likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high, due to the increased air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, especially through Kenya’s Nairobi airport, a regional transport hub, and other neighbouring countries that shared a direct border with Uganda.

    “The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with politics, the coming yuletide as well as other religious gatherings and festivals during the last few months of the year,” he outlined.

    He said that in spite of the risk assessment, the country had the capacity – technical, human (health workforce), and diagnostic – to respond effectively in the event of an outbreak.

    “This is exemplified by our successful response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014, as well as improvements in our capacity for health emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We have the diagnostic capacity to test for the EVD presently at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital’s Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology Laboratory,” he said.

    He, however, said that diagnostic capacity would be scaled up to other laboratories in cities with important Points of Entry (POE) and others as might be required.

    “An effective response system is in place with the availability of control capacities (trained rapid response teams, and an effective infection prevention and control programme) to limit the risk of spread in the event of a single imported case.

    “Currently, no case of EVD has been reported in Nigeria. Nonetheless, the Nigerian Government, through NCDC’s multisectoral NEVHD TWG, has put several measures in place to prevent and prepare for immediate control of any outbreak of the disease in-country.

    “The NCDC Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is now in alert mode. Development of an incident action plan for the first few cases of EVD has commenced.

    “POE surveillance has been heightened, using the passenger pre-boarding health declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) platform.

    “Passengers arriving from Uganda and persons who transited in Uganda are being followed up for 21 days of their arrival in Nigeria on their health status.

    “Trained Rapid Response Teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak.

    Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) in states with major POE i.e. Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Rivers are on standby.

    “A medical counter measures plan is available.”

    He said amplification of risk communication and engagement with states and partners, to strengthen preparedness activities including a review of risk communication protocols, plans and messages in the event of an outbreak, had been done.

    Adetifa said the country had an active infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme nationwide with guidelines and training packages developed for healthcare workers.

    Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans. The strain responsible for the current outbreak was first reported in southern Sudan in June 1976.

    Since then, seven outbreaks caused by this strain had been reported (four in Uganda and three in Sudan) with previous outbreaks’ fatality ratio ranging from 41 to 100 per cent.

    Just like other types of Ebola virus, people infected cannot spread the disease until the development of symptoms, including fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat later followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function.

    Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to the virus, but the average is 8 to 10 days.

    Currently, there are no vaccines or therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of this strain of the virus.

    However, the early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly reduce deaths.

    Recovery from EVD depends on good supportive clinical care, management of co-morbidities, and the patient’s immune response.

    People who recover from Ebola virus infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.

  • DRC declares new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka – WHO

    DRC declares new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka – WHO

    World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Saturday declared an outbreak of Ebola in Mbandaka, a city in the north-western Equateur Province.

    WHO, in a statement, stated that DRC declared an outbreak of Ebola after a case was confirmed in the city on April 5.

    The infected patient was a 31-year-old man who began experiencing symptoms on April 5 and after more than a week of care at home, sought treatment at a local health facility.

    On April 21, he was admitted to an Ebola treatment centre for intensive care but died later that day. Having recognised the symptoms, health workers immediately submitted samples to test for Ebola virus disease, WHO explained.

    So far, just one case has been confirmed and investigations to determine the source of the outbreak are ongoing.

    “Time is not on our side,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said, noting that “the disease has had a two-week head start and we are now playing catch-up.”

    According to her, the positive news is that health authorities in the DRC have more experience than anyone else in the world at controlling Ebola outbreaks quickly.

    This is the 14th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1976.

    The new outbreak is the sixth since 2018 – the most frequent occurrence in the country’s Ebola history.

    Previous outbreaks in Equateur Province were in 2020 and 2018, with 130 and 54 recorded cases respectively.

    WHO informed that the deceased patient received a safe and dignified burial, which involves modifying traditional funeral ceremonies to minimise the risk of contagious fluids infecting attendees.

    Health authorities are also identifying contacts to monitor their health and disinfected the health facility where the patient was treated.

    Moreover, plans to kick off vaccination in the coming days are underway with stockpiles of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine already available in the cities of Goma and Kinshasa.

    The UN health agency assured that vaccines would be sent to Mbandaka and administered through ‘ring vaccination strategy – where contacts and contacts of contacts are vaccinated to curb the spread of the virus and protect lives.

    “Many people in Mbandaka are already vaccinated against Ebola, which should help reduce the impact of the disease.

    “All those who were vaccinated during the 2020 outbreak will be revaccinated,” Moeti said.

    Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. Case fatality rates have varied from 25 per cent to 90 per cent in past outbreaks.

  • Ivory Coast records first case of Ebola in 25 years

    Ivory Coast records first case of Ebola in 25 years

    Ivory Coast has recorded its first case of the Ebola hemorrhagic virus in 25 years, according to the country’s health minister.

    Pierre N’Gou Dimba said on national television on Saturday that officials confirmed the case after testing samples from an 18-year-old girl who travelled from neighbouring Guinea.

    “This is an isolated and imported case,” he said, adding that the patient was currently being treated in intensive care in the commercial capital, Abidjan.

    In a separate statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the case was Ivory Coast’s first Ebola infection since 1994.

    “This came after the Institut Pasteur in Ivory Coast confirmed the Ebola Virus Disease in samples collected from a patient, who was hospitalized in the commercial capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea,” the WHO said in the statement.

    The WHO said initial investigations found the patient had travelled to Ivory Coast by road and arrived in Abidjan on August 12.

    “The patient was admitted to a hospital after experiencing a fever and is currently receiving treatment,” it said.

    Guinea – site of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record – experienced a four-month Ebola outbreak earlier this year that was declared over on June 19.

    Guinea early this week also confirmed a first case of Marburg virus in West Africa. Marburg virus disease is highly infectious haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola.

    Transmission of both deadly diseases occurs through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue, while symptoms include headache, vomiting blood, muscle pains and bleeding.

    The WHO said there was no indication the current case in Ivory Coast is linked to the outbreak in Guinea earlier this year. It said further investigation and genomic sequencing will identify the strain and determine if there was a connection.

    “It is of immense concern that this outbreak has been declared in Abidjan, a metropolis of more than 4 million people,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said in the statement.

    “However, much of the world’s expertise in tackling Ebola is here on the continent and Ivory Coast can tap into this experience and bring the response to full speed,” she said.

    The WHO said it was helping to coordinate a cross-border response, which included transferring 5,000 doses of Ebola vaccine from Guinea to Ivory Coast.