[UPDATED] Ebola Patient In Nigeria Is Ugandan-Born, Arrived Abuja October 3 — Africa CDC

 

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has disclosed that the index patient diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in Nigeria is Ugandan-born and arrived in the Federal Capital Territory with her husband on October 3, 2026.

The Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, who stated this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, said that though the regional agency was in talks with Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on ways to contain the outbreak, there was a need for the patient in Nigeria to provide relevant information to the authorities to avoid a crisis between African countries.

“I am talking to all authorities — with Nigerian authorities, with Ugandan authorities, even to DRC authorities. But we are lucky that this person we know today, without any doubt, is a Ugandan-born person who went to Uganda and she was there for some days. Then the husband flew to join her in Uganda then they came back to Abuja on October 3. This is a fact,” said Kaseya.

“Now, what we want is collaboration from this person, the lady. She has to disclose to the authorities. I need this information as Nigeria needs this information because we need also to support Uganda. She needs to tell us if, first, she flew to the DRC. Second, if she went out of Kampala; third, if she was in contact with someone who came from the DRC.

“I think this is the information we are looking for. It will help all of us to avoid crisis between African countries.”

 

‘We’re Not In Panic Mode’

The Africa CDC DG, however, noted that the continent is now “well prepared” to address any public health issue.

While pushing back on claims that Ebola is an African problem, he said that it would be a mistake to assume that anyone in the world is safe.

Kaseya, who disclosed that the Bundibugyo strain of the virus is the most geographically extended, affecting West, Southern and East Africa, assured that the continent is not in a panic mode as it knows what must be done.

 

No Vaccine Yet For Bundibugyo Strain

The Africa CDC DG said some partners consider Ebola an African issue, as “if this outbreak was in Western countries, vaccines would already be available”.

He, however, said that the agency had initiated clinical trials of new vaccines, including a new Bundibugyo vaccine manufactured in Egypt.

Kaseya also noted that the agency had worked with the DRC and Uganda to bring the Zaire vaccine for clinical trials and compassionate use.

“We don’t want to see Africa left behind again. We have the knowledge. We have people with intelligence,” he said. “We have capacity to manufacture vaccines; we need to move on. This is also the case for medicine and diagnostics.”

 

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