Ebola: NCDC warns of importation risk after Kenya confirms first case
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria is reviewing its preparedness for Ebola following Kenya’s confirmation of an imported case of the Bundibugyo virus.
The NCDC said the development highlights the risk of international importation of the virus through travel and population movement, including the possibility of the virus being brought into Nigeria.
The agency disclosed this on Tuesday night in a statement signed by its Director-General, Jide Idris.
It noted that as of October 6, there was no confirmed case of Ebola disease in Nigeria.
Kenya’s case makes it the fourth country to report a case linked to the current Bundibugyo virus outbreak, following the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and France.
Kenya confirms first case
Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa.
The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC, travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi.
The patient was isolated after developing symptoms, while samples tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus at Kenya’s National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
The patient later died on the night of October 5 and was buried on Tuesday under Kenya’s safe and dignified burial protocol, according to WHO.
Nigeria reviews preparedness
The NCDC said the development in Kenya had added a new regional dimension to the outbreak and underscored the possibility of international importation through travel and population movement.
It said that since the outbreak was first reported in the DRC, the NCDC, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, state governments and other stakeholders, including partners, had taken steps to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola.
“These efforts have focused on early detection, isolation and referral, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, risk communication and protection of healthcare workers,” the agency said.
The NCDC added that Nigeria had conducted a national Ebola preparedness tabletop simulation exercise to assess the country’s readiness to respond to a possible case.
It said it would continue to monitor developments in Kenya, the DRC and other affected countries and adjust preparedness measures as necessary.
DRC remains worst affected
The current outbreak was first reported in the DRC and has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus.
As of September 23, the WHO said the DRC had reported 7,890 confirmed cases, including 3,799 deaths, representing a crude case fatality ratio of 48.1 per cent.
The outbreak has affected 63 health zones across seven provinces, with the WHO warning of increased cross-border risks.
Uganda’s latest Ebola outbreak ended in August, while France reported a travel-related case in June.
NCDC advises travellers, health workers
The NCDC advised people travelling from affected areas to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the affected area.
“If symptoms develop, avoid unnecessary contact with others and immediately contact the appropriate public health authorities or seek care at a recognised health facility, clearly disclosing travel and possible exposure history,” it said.
The agency also advised Nigerians to practise hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of sick or deceased people.
It urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion when treating patients with compatible symptoms and a history of travel to or exposure in an affected area within the previous 21 days.
