Nigeria's Ebola case 'closely related' to Kenya index strain, genomic analysis shows

Nigeria’s only confirmed Ebola case carries a virus closely related to the strain detected in Kenya’s index case, health minister Muhammad Ali Pate announced on Friday night — the first genetic link between the outbreaks.

NCDC public health laboratories did the sequencing with support from Professor Christian Happi’s laboratory at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State; Pate announced it at an Abuja news conference alongside NCDC director-general Dr Jide Idris. On X, Pate said the Nigerian virus was “highly similar” to the strain from Kenya’s first imported case, “differing by only one mutation”.

But Pate stressed the finding does not establish a direct epidemiological link. “There is no evidence of travel by that index case in Kenya that links it to Nigeria, but the viruses appear to be related,” he said. “That is all we can say at this stage.”

Nigeria’s only case is a Swiss embassy employee’s wife in Abuja, who returned from Uganda on 3 October. Contacts were traced and quarantined; some tests are negative, others pending. The Africa CDC had suggested possible airport contact — both flew from Uganda the same day.

Nigeria is the fourth African country hit by the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak after the DRC, Uganda and Kenya. Declared Ebola-free in August after 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, Uganda has reinstated traveller locator forms for all arrivals and barred transit for travellers with DRC travel history. WHO figures as of 20 October: more than 9,700 confirmed cases, including 4,690 deaths.

Sources: Reuters, NAN, Punch, Vanguard, Al Jazeera