The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has confirmed that the Ebola virus detected in Nigeria is highly similar to the virus recognized in Kenya’s first imported case.
Mr Pate disclosed this on Friday throughout a briefing on the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, saying genomic sequencing confirmed that the viruses differed by just one mutation.
He mentioned the evaluation was performed by sequencing groups on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Institute of Genomics and Global Health at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, with the group led by virologist Christian Happi.
However, he cautioned that the discovering doesn’t set up how the Nigerian first case acquired the infection.
“Based on the genomic analysis, there is no evidence of travel of that index case in Kenya that links it to Nigeria, but the viruses are appearing to be related,” he mentioned.
He added that the discovering might change the understanding of the route of transmission as additional investigations and testing proceed.
Kenya has up to now recorded 9 confirmed Ebola circumstances attributable to Bundibugyo virus, together with one demise, in accordance to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Eight of the circumstances had been linked to the nation’s first imported case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), together with 4 healthcare staff.
Africa CDC probes hyperlink
The genomic discovering got here on the identical day the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) mentioned it’s investigating a potential connection between Nigeria’s case and Kenya’s first imported case.
The company mentioned each sufferers had travelled by Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on 3 October, prompting investigations into whether or not they had shared gear or had different contact. Africa CDC, nevertheless, pressured that no connection had been established between the infections.
The Kenyan affected person travelled from the DRC by Uganda earlier than arriving in Nairobi. He later died, turning into the primary recorded Ebola demise in Kenya’s present outbreak.
The Nigerian affected person additionally handed by Uganda, however Ugandan authorities had earlier rejected options that this established the nation because the supply of her infection.
Uganda denies lively case
On 21 October, Uganda’s Ministry of Health mentioned it had no confirmed lively Ebola case and that the Nigerian affected person’s transit by the nation didn’t set up that she contracted the virus there.
The ministry mentioned preliminary data indicated that the Nigerian lady had travelled to jap DRC for enterprise and handed by Uganda in early October with out displaying signs. It mentioned the situation of her publicity remained below investigation.
The new genomic discovering now supplies proof of similarity between the Nigerian and Kenyan infections, though Nigerian authorities haven’t established that the affected person was contaminated in Kenya.
One confirmed case
Mr Pate mentioned Nigeria nonetheless has just one confirmed Ebola case and that authorities had been persevering with contact tracing, quarantine and extra testing of contacts.
Some exams have returned destructive outcomes, whereas others are pending, he mentioned.
He urged Nigerians to stay vigilant however calm, saying there isn’t any want for panic.
“We will continue to work diligently to ensure that we contain this virus as much as possible, and that we avoid a situation that spills over to the communities,” he mentioned.
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The minister mentioned the federal government can be strengthening infection prevention and management measures in well being amenities and would prepare well being staff on how to determine and handle suspected circumstances.
He urged hospitals to notify public well being authorities of suspected circumstances and inspired Nigerians to observe fundamental preventive measures, together with common handwashing and hygiene.
Mr Pate additionally mentioned Ebola isn’t presently recognized to be transmitted by the air however by shut contact with contaminated physique fluids.
He urged Nigerians to depend on data from public well being authorities, together with the NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and Africa CDC, quite than unverified data on social media.
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