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UN expresses confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to contain the imported Ebola Bundibugyo case, citing the swift response by health authorities and extensive contact tracing.
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WHO says the infected woman, who recently travelled from Uganda, developed symptoms on October 7 and tested positive on October 20 after seeking medical attention in Abuja.
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At least 44 contacts have been identified for monitoring and investigation as Nigerian authorities move to prevent secondary infections and wider transmission.
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UN pledges support to Nigeria and urges countries to work closely with WHO and comply with international health regulations to halt further cross-border spread.
October 22, (THEWILL) – The United Nations has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to contain its newly confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo case, pledging support as health authorities intensify contact tracing and surveillance to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
The assurance came amid concerns over the international spread of the outbreak, with Nigeria becoming the fifth country to report a case in the current wave of infections.
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, speaking on Wednesday at the UN Headquarters in New York, said Nigeria’s swift response and extensive contact-tracing efforts had demonstrated the capacity of its health authorities to manage the imported case.
“We have full confidence in the ability and the capacity of the Nigerian Government’s health authorities to deal with this single case”, Dujarric said.
While acknowledging concerns over the detection of the virus in another country, he said the immediate priority was effective containment and cooperation among countries and international health authorities.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s of course concerning that there is a case in a new country”, he said.
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Dujarric noted that Nigerian authorities had already launched active contact tracing to identify and monitor people who might have been exposed to the infected patient.
Asked whether the UN was concerned that the outbreak could spread to more countries or persist into another year, he stressed the importance of international cooperation and adherence to established global health protocols.
“It is also incumbent that countries work together, follow international health regulations, work with the WHO. This is why the WHO was created, to help to deal with these issues, and I know they’re very much on top of it”, he said.
The UN spokesperson also reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to support the Federal Government in strengthening its response.
“We are, as always, ready to assist the Government of Nigeria in any way possible”, Dujarric said.
He expressed confidence that officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria were maintaining direct contact with national health authorities as efforts continued to contain the infection.
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