Abuja: The wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja, Nigeria, has tested positive for Ebola after a suspected infection during a trip to Uganda, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The woman, who was born in Uganda, has reportedly been receiving treatment for symptoms at a private clinic in Abuja for about a week. Swiss officials said she may have contracted the virus during a visit to Uganda around two weeks ago.
Her husband, who travelled with her, is in isolation but has not shown any symptoms of Ebola so far.
The precise source of the woman’s infection remains unclear. Health authorities are examining her travel history and potential contacts. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa’s leading public health agency said they had no information confirming that she had also travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Outbreak reported in several countries
The reported infection comes amid concerns over an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. The outbreak, which began in the DRC in May, has reportedly infected more than 9,700 people, with around half dying from the disease, according to figures cited in reports.
A woman who recently returned from Uganda was also confirmed to have Ebola in Nigeria this week. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.
Cases linked to the outbreak have been reported in the DRC, Uganda, Kenya, France and Nigeria, although the number of countries with active cases may vary as investigations continue. Kenya has reported nine cases linked to an individual who travelled from the DRC through Uganda. In June, a doctor returning from the DRC tested positive in France, becoming the first reported case outside Africa. The doctor later recovered.
Contact tracing and border surveillance
Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated clothing and bedding.
Violence, population movements and limited access to healthcare in parts of the DRC have complicated efforts to contain the outbreak.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called a meeting of African leaders to coordinate the response, while the WHO has urged countries in the region to strengthen vigilance and surveillance.
Officials have also raised concerns over accounting for the use of $700 million allocated to Ebola response efforts, highlighting the importance of transparent funding and effective coordination as health authorities work to contain the disease.
