The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the condition of a diplomat diagnosed with Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has deteriorated to multi-organ failure.
The patient’s name and nationality have not been disclosed by the health authorities.
The Director of Public Health Laboratory Services at the NCDC, Olajumoke Babatunde, gave the update during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, confirming that the patient’s condition had worsened.
“The patient’s condition has deteriorated. We did three levels of tests, but all were molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo,” Babatunde said.
According to the NCDC, laboratory testing confirmed that the patient has the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare species of the Ebola virus group. The same strain has been linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and regional health concerns.
Bundibugyo virus disease can cause severe illness and belongs to the group of viruses that cause viral haemorrhagic fever. The virus can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials.
The latest development comes as Nigerian health authorities intensify surveillance and preparedness measures following the confirmation of the case.
The NCDC had previously warned that the regional outbreak posed a significant importation risk to Nigeria and stressed the importance of early detection, isolation, contact tracing and infection-prevention measures.
The deteriorating condition of the Abuja patient has therefore heightened attention on the country’s response to the Ebola case, with health authorities continuing efforts to prevent further transmission.
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