WHO urges countries to prepare for Ebola as Nigeria confirms imported case - TimesLIVE

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to strengthen their preparedness for Ebola, including maintaining disease surveillance systems, ensuring laboratories can safely test suspected cases and keeping rapid response teams ready for deployment.

The warning comes after Nigeria confirmed an imported case of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, becoming the fifth country to detect the virus since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 15.

The WHO said in a statement it was working with health authorities and partners to strengthen measures to contain the outbreak.

“In support, the World Health Organization and partners are working closely with health authorities to strengthen control measures, including case investigation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and provision of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment for health workers,” it said.

The WHO called on countries to maintain a high level of readiness as the outbreak in the DRC continues to evolve. It also noted that Kenya had reported nine cases linked to an imported case in recent weeks.

“Countries should maintain strong disease surveillance and rapid alert investigation, ensure laboratories can safely test suspected cases, keep rapid response and clinical teams ready for immediate activation, reinforce infection prevention and control in both public and private health facilities, and pre-position essential supplies, while actively engaging with communities,” the organisation said.

It also urged countries to increase monitoring at points of entry and ensure response plans were in place, saying sustained preparedness was essential to detect cases early, prevent further transmission and protect health workers and communities.

Nigeria’s federal ministry of health and social welfare said the confirmed patient was a woman who had recently travelled to Uganda.

Her symptoms began on October 7, four days after she arrived in Nigeria. She sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja on October 11 and laboratory tests confirmed the Bundibugyo virus on October 20.

The woman is in isolation and receiving medical care.

“Investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of her infection and reconstruct her full travel and exposure history,” the WHO said.

According to the ministry, 44 contacts have been identified and are being monitored while efforts continue to identify other people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Infection prevention and control measures are also being strengthened at the private health facility where the woman sought care.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its incident management system to co-ordinate the response.

“Rapid identification of cases, timely follow-up of contacts and effective infection prevention and control are critical to contain the spread of the virus,” the WHO said.

Despite the evolving outbreak, the organisation advised against travel and trade restrictions targeting affected countries.

“WHO advises against any restriction of travel to or trade with affected countries, and continues to closely monitor and, where necessary, verify travel and trade measures in relation to this event,” it said.

The organisation said that its risk assessment was being regularly reviewed to take account of the latest developments.