Nigeria confirms first Ebola case

Nigeria confirms its first Ebola case as the outbreak spreads across Africa.

The full report

Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in its capital, Abuja, after a woman who arrived from Uganda tested positive for the virus, the health ministry said.

The woman began showing symptoms on 7 October and was admitted to a hospital in Abuja four days later, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

It is unclear when she arrived in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. The health minister, Muhammad Pate, said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient.

Uganda's ministry of health said the patient had only transited through Uganda and that she is a Nigerian woman who had been on a business trip to Congo's eastern region.

The Nigerian authorities have not disclosed her nationality. Uganda's ministry of health insisted Uganda has 'no confirmed active Ebola cases'.

Nigeria is the latest country to report an Ebola case as the outbreak spreads across the region. Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and has since recorded nine infections.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said two weeks ago it was stepping up surveillance following the detection of Ebola in Kenya and strengthening the country's preparedness for a potential outbreak.