Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976.
The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. The virus is one of two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae. There are four identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Three of the four have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Ivory Coast. The fourth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the federal capital territory, following laboratory confirmation.
The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, is receiving treatment in isolation after spending several days at a private hospital in the FCT.
The federal ministry of health and social welfare, the nigeria centre for disease control and prevention, and the FCT health services secretariat are coordinating efforts to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
Contact tracing has commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, and travel contacts.
Surveillance has also been intensified, while the hospital is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
