The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the patient diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a diplomat whose condition has deteriorated into multi-organ failure.
Olajumoke Babatunde, NCDC’s Director of Public Health Laboratory Services, disclosed this on Wednesday during an emergency incident management meeting in Abuja.
Babatunde said molecular tests conducted at three levels confirmed that the patient was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Another official disclosed that the patient is a diplomat but did not reveal the individual’s nationality.
The Federal Government had confirmed the Ebola case on Tuesday, identifying the patient as a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.
According to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the patient was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The government said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring to prevent further transmission. Those being traced include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
The Bundibugyo strain is a rare species of Ebola virus first identified in Uganda in 2007. It causes Bundibugyo virus disease, a severe illness that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
The NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and FCT health authorities are working together to contain the infection and prevent further spread.