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Health

Ebola has spread from Congo to 4 other countries; Nigeria latest

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 21 Oct 2026 1 hour ago

Published: October 21, 2026 05:01 PM IST

Uganda confirmed an Ebola outbreak on the same day as neighbouring Congo after detecting the infection in a man travelling from Congo. The first cases in Uganda were Congolese patients who crossed the border to seek treatment for an unknown illness before it was known they had Ebola, according to health authorities.

Ebola disease, the fatal hemorrhagic fever that spreads through body fluids, has spread to four countries after Congo, the latest being Nigeria. The disease had earlier spread also to Uganda, Kenya and France. Nigeria was first declared in eastern Congo in mid-May. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there’s no approved vaccine or drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,500 people infected in Congo. The World Health Organisation has said it is the fastest-growing outbreak of Ebola in history. In Africa, it’s been recorded in the central, western and eastern regions.

Nigeria’s infection
Nigeria confirmed an Ebola infection in its capital, Abuja, in a woman who arrived from Uganda about two weeks ago. The woman began showing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

It is still unclear when she arrived in Nigeria. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient and were “doing everything possible to contain this case.”

Uganda’s status
Uganda confirmed an Ebola outbreak on the same day as neighbouring Congo after detecting the infection in a man travelling from Congo. The first cases in Uganda were Congolese patients who crossed the border to seek treatment for an unknown illness before it was known they had Ebola, according to health authorities. The Uganda outbreak was declared over by WHO on August 27, after 20 confirmed cases, including 15 patients from Congo. Eighteen people recovered, and two died. More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored, and the country said Tuesday that it has no new cases.

Kenya’s status 
Kenya announced its first Ebola case on October 6, involving a man who travelled from Congo before arriving in the capital, Nairobi, on October 3. He tested positive for Ebola on October 5 and died the same day. Ebola cases in Kenya have increased to nine, including four relatives of the first patient and four health workers. Authorities have also identified 135 contacts linked to the nine patients, with 134 in quarantine. Kenya’s Health Ministry said there was still no evidence of transmission beyond known contacts of the first patient.

France, the only country outside Africa
France in June confirmed a positive case of Ebola in a doctor travelling back from Congo, making it the first and only country outside Africa to have recorded a case in this outbreak. The individual returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus transmission zones in Congo and was taken into care at a specialised facility in France. The person recovered and was discharged on July 4, according to WHO. 
(With PTI inputs)

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