Ebola Confirmed in Nigeria: Swiss Diplomat’s Wife Tests Positive

A woman who tested positive for Ebola in Nigeria is the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja. The Swiss government reported that she likely contracted the virus during a recent trip to Uganda.

The 42-year-old woman, originally from Uganda, tested positive on October 20. This marks Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola case in over ten years. She had been showing symptoms and spent about a week in a private clinic in Abuja before her diagnosis.

Her husband, who traveled with her, is currently in isolation but has not shown any symptoms. Health officials are still trying to trace her movements to determine how she was infected. Reports indicate she may have traveled to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo before visiting Uganda, but this information has not been confirmed by health authorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are involved in investigating the case. They noted that Nigeria and Uganda are sharing information to clarify the woman’s travel history and potential exposure to the virus.

According to the WHO’s representative in Nigeria, the woman returned to Abuja on October 3 after being in Uganda since September 16. She remains hospitalized, but her condition is reportedly improving.

The current Ebola case in Nigeria is linked to an outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, and symptoms can include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Health officials are working to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.