Lucrezia Ciotti The Ebola epidemic continues to cause concern in Africa, with new infections confirming the virus's spread beyond the areas initially affected. Nigeria has recorded its first case linked to the current outbreak, while infections in Kenya have risen to nine. At the heart of the emergency is the Bundibugyo variant, which is severely challenging health authorities and requiring enhanced controls to contain the risk of further infections.
Ebola in Africa, Kenya and Congo also involved: the risks of the Bundibugyo variant
The case recorded in Nigeria joins those detected in other African countries and marks a new stage in the spread of the epidemic. Kenya confirmed its first case in early October and has since reached nine infections . Among the patients is a 24-year-old man, a close relative of the first case identified in the country. He was already in quarantine when he developed symptoms and was immediately isolated.
The first patient died in Nairobi on October 5. Uganda, which had reported several cases in previous months, has now declared it has no confirmed active infections. The main outbreak was identified in May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the epidemic reached particularly severe proportions, with over 9.500 cases and thousands of deaths.
The causative agent belongs to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus species , a rare and less studied variant compared to other strains. There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for this variant, although trials are underway. The infection is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, whether living or deceased, and can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in more severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
The director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Jean Kaseya, called the situation an " extremely serious threat ," highlighting the high mortality rate. In the absence of specific tools to prevent or treat the infection, the key measures remain the timely identification of patients, their isolation, contact tracing, and strengthening health surveillance.
Ebola: Nigeria reports first case in 12 years, 44 people under observation
As reported by the BBC , Nigeria has confirmed its first case related to the current epidemic after eradicating the last national outbreak in 2014. The patient, a woman returning to Abuja after a trip to Uganda , first showed symptoms on October 7 and was hospitalized four days later. The diagnosis was made during her hospital stay, and the woman was placed in isolation in the hospital. It is not clear when she entered Nigeria or where she contracted the infection.
According to the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the patient had traveled through the country during a business trip to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a serious outbreak is ongoing. Mere transit through Uganda, local authorities have clarified, does not prove that the infection occurred on their territory. Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate has announced the start of investigations to reconstruct the woman's movements and identify those exposed. So far, 44 close contacts have been identified , while the government has intensified surveillance and prevention measures to limit the risk of further infections.