The Director‑General of the [Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention](https://africacdc.org) (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, has appealed for the full travel itinerary and contact list of Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola patient, a diplomat’s wife who recently returned from Uganda, to help investigators trace the source of infection.
**What information is being requested?**
Kaseya explained that authorities need to know whether the patient left Kampala, visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or met anyone who might have been exposed to Ebola. He stressed that cooperation from the patient is essential for both Nigerian and Ugandan health officials to avoid diplomatic friction.
**How did the patient’s symptoms develop?**
The woman, originally from Uganda but residing in Abuja, spent several days in her home country before her husband, a diplomat, joined her. They flew back to Nigeria on 3 October. She first showed symptoms on 6 October, initially seeking treatment at a private clinic for presumed malaria, before being admitted to a second private hospital on 11 October when her condition worsened.
**What are the contact‑tracing measures?**
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, [Muhammad Pate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Pate), confirmed that 44 individuals who had any level of exposure to the patient have been identified and are being monitored. "We have cast the net wide so that we contain it as broadly as possible," he told the BBC.
**What is the broader regional context?**
The case emerges amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has recorded over 9,500 confirmed cases and more than 4,600 deaths as of mid‑October. Neighboring Kenya has also reported nine cases, including one fatality, linked to travel through Uganda. Uganda itself logged 20 Bundibugyo‑virus cases earlier in the year, but the World Health Organization declared its outbreak over after 42 days without new cases.
The Africa CDC is coordinating with health ministries in Uganda, Ethiopia and the World Health Organization to verify the patient’s movements and prevent further spread. Kaseya warned that accurate information would strengthen regional cooperation and avert a crisis between African nations.
**Why is this important for Nigeria?**
Health officials emphasize that a single imported case does not constitute an outbreak, but swift investigation and contact tracing are vital to maintain public confidence and safeguard the nation’s preparedness gains.
The patient’s travel history remains contested. Uganda’s Ministry of Health described her as a Nigerian national who transited the country en route from a business trip to eastern DRC, while Nigerian authorities continue to piece together the full itinerary.
Overall, the joint effort underscores the importance of transparency, cross‑border collaboration, and rapid response in containing Ebola threats across the region.