Ebola Patient Develops Multiple Organ Failure As Condition Worsens – NCDC
The health condition of Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient has deteriorated, with the infected woman developing multiple organ failure, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed.
The development has heightened concerns among health authorities as efforts intensify to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the NCDC, Olajumoke Babatunde, disclosed the worsening condition during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Babatunde said laboratory investigations confirmed that the patient was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola after three rounds of molecular testing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also confirmed the strain.
The Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making the management of the infection particularly challenging.
The patient, identified as a female diplomat, reportedly travelled from Uganda to Abuja on October 3, 2026. She developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private hospital in the FCT on October 11 after experiencing symptoms initially resembling malaria.
According to the NCDC, the woman is being kept in isolation and receiving medical care.
The agency disclosed that 44 people who had close contact with the patient had been identified. They include healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and individuals who travelled with her or may have been exposed to the virus during her journey.
Surveillance has been intensified to monitor the identified contacts, trace potential additional exposures and prevent further transmission.
The confirmation of the case has prompted heightened public health surveillance, with health authorities working to contain the infection and reduce the risk of a wider outbreak.
The NCDC has continued its response efforts, including contact tracing and monitoring, as the patient’s deteriorating condition underscores the seriousness of the situation.
