Nigeria traces contacts after first case
Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus on 20 October, according to Journal du Cameroun. The patient, a woman who had travelled from Uganda, was treated at a private hospital in Abuja. Egypt Independent reported that she developed symptoms on 7 October and was admitted on 11 October, although the date of her arrival in Nigeria remained unclear.
Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities were tracing 44 people identified as contacts and were working to contain the case. Journal du Cameroun also reported strengthened health surveillance and border controls in Nigeria.
The wider outbreak was first declared in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in mid-May. Journal du Cameroun cited Congolese authorities as reporting 9,952 confirmed cases and 4,602 deaths by 19 October 2026. Egypt Independent said the World Health Organization had described it as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. The Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or drug, according to the publication.
Cases linked to the outbreak have also been recorded in Uganda, Kenya and France. Uganda’s outbreak, involving 20 confirmed cases, was declared over by the World Health Organization on 27 August. Kenya had reported nine cases, while the infected person treated in France recovered and was discharged on 4 July.
Cameroon reviews readiness at borders
Cameroon has activated its health-crisis strategy to prepare for a possible imported case, Journal du Cameroun reported. Public Health Minister Malachie Manaouda said the country had recorded no suspected case at the time of his comments.
Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute convened health officials in Yaoundé on 2 October to assess preparations. Manaouda was also due to chair a crisis meeting on Thursday at the public-health emergency operations coordination centre. The review was intended to identify measures needed to strengthen the response plan, with further meetings planned at the country’s entry points.