The Ebola epidemic spread from Congo to 4 other countries

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Ebola disease of the rapidly spreading epidemic in Congo has now spread to four other countries, including two where it is active. The Ebola outbreak has spread further in Africa than any previous outbreak, reaching three regions.

Nigeria became Tuesday the last country affected by the epidemicwhich was first reported in eastern Congo in mid-May. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there is no vaccine or approved drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,500 people infected in the Congo.

The World Health Organization has declared that it is The fastest growing Ebola epidemic in history. In Africa, it has been reported in the central, western and eastern regions.

A recurring problem in the spread of the virus in Africa is what appears to be lax surveillance efforts, as most early cases were confirmed long after people began showing symptoms or after travel.

Here is where the other countries affected by this Ebola epidemic are:

The patient in Nigeria had returned from Uganda

Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola infection in its capital, Abuja, in a woman who arrived from Uganda about two weeks ago.

The woman started showing symptoms on October 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on October 11, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

It is still unclear when she arrived in Nigeria. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient and were “doing everything possible to contain this case.”

Uganda reported 20 cases; none are active

Uganda confirmed an Ebola outbreak on the same day as neighboring Congo after detecting the infection in a man arriving from Congo.

The first cases in Uganda involved Congolese patients who crossed the border to seek treatment for an unknown illness before they were known to have Ebola, according to health authorities.

The outbreak in Uganda was declared over by the WHO on August 27, after 20 confirmed cases, including 15 patients from Congo. Eighteen people have recovered and two have died. More than 800 contacts have been identified and monitored, and the country said Tuesday there were no new cases.

Kenya’s first patient traveled from Congo via Uganda

Kenya announced its first case of Ebola on October 6, involving a man who came from Congo via Uganda before arriving in the capital, Nairobi, on October 3.

He tested positive for Ebola on October 5 and died the same day.

Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to nineincluding four relatives of the first patient and four health workers.

Authorities also identified 135 contacts linked to the nine patients, including 134 in quarantine. Kenya’s health ministry said there was still no evidence of transmission beyond the known contacts of the first patient.

France is the only non-African country to record a case

France confirmed a positive case of Ebola in a doctor returning from Congo in June, making it the first and only country outside Africa to have recorded a case of this epidemic.

The individual was returning from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus transmission zones in Congo and was taken care of in a specialized establishment in France. The person recovered and was released on July 4, according to the WHO.

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