Ebola cases reported in Nigeria and Kenya as virus continues to spread

With new Ebola cases reported in Nigeria and Kenya, the latest outbreak of the deadly virus has become the fastest-growing and most geographically widespread in history, African health officials say.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, with about 240 million people, reported Tuesday night that it had detected its first Ebola case in more than a decade. The case involved a woman who had arrived in the capital, Abuja, after recent travel to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Kenya, meanwhile, reported its ninth Ebola case Tuesday. Its cases were related to a traveller who had journeyed through Uganda from Congo, the epicentre of the current outbreak, with more than 9,550 cases and more than 4,600 deaths since the outbreak was first reported five months ago.

There is no evidence of community transmission in either Nigeria or Kenya, and health authorities say the cases are isolated. But the latest reports mean the Bundibugyo Ebola virus is now present in Central Africa, East Africa and West Africa.

“This Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak has already become the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history, affecting multiple countries across three regions of Africa,” said Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“With mortality approaching 50 per cent in DRC, we face an extremely serious threat,” Dr. Kaseya said in a statement.

He called for urgent help from the international community, including medical supplies, diagnostics, trained responders, flexible financing and assistance for stronger community-based surveillance.

“We cannot allow this outbreak to spread to more countries or continue for another year,” Dr. Kaseya said. “Every day of delay costs lives. Africa’s health security is global health security. Stopping Ebola in Africa today means protecting the world.”

The number of cases is still smaller than the biggest-ever outbreak, which killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, but its death toll has climbed much faster.

It is unclear whether the newly reported Ebola patient in Nigeria may have passed the virus to other people in the country. She arrived from Uganda on Oct. 3 and developed symptoms four days later, but she was not diagnosed with the virus until 17 days after her arrival. Ugandan officials said she had been in the DRC before travelling through Uganda.

The Nigerian Health Ministry says it has identified 44 contacts of the woman and has begun monitoring them. It says it is intensifying its efforts to find others who may have been exposed to the woman, who is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

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“Investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of her infection and reconstruct her full travel and exposure history,” the World Health Organization said in a statement Tuesday night.

The Uganda connection is unclear. Uganda reported 20 Ebola cases in May and June, but it was declared free of Ebola in August.

The WHO urged all countries in the region to “sustain a high level of readiness,” including strong disease surveillance and “heightened monitoring” at points of entry. But it continued to advise against any restrictions on travel or trade with the affected countries.

During the 2014 outbreak, Nigeria reported 20 Ebola cases, including eight deaths. “There is no need for panic,” the Nigerian Health Ministry said Wednesday. “What matters is staying informed, practising good hand hygiene, knowing the symptoms and seeking guidance from public health authorities if you suspect exposure.”

Ottawa extends Ebola travel restrictions for 60 days

The latest cases in Nigeria and Kenya could pose a dilemma for Canada, which continues to impose Ebola-related travel restrictions on three countries – the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan – despite the absence of any current cases in the latter two countries.

Under a renewed policy announced in September, all foreigners who have been in the DRC in the past 21 days are prohibited from entering Canada. Anyone who has been in Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days is required to quarantine for 21 days after arrival in Canada.

Some health workers say the Canadian travel restrictions have made it difficult to recruit specialized technical staff to help tackle the Ebola outbreak in Congo.

There are no travel restrictions on Nigeria and Kenya. As two of the biggest economies in Africa, they could be more difficult for Ottawa to restrict.