Ebola virus in Nigeria genetically related to Kenya’s index case, says Ali Pate

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, says genomic analysis indicates that the Ebola virus disease detected in Nigeria is closely related to the virus identified in Kenya.

Speaking at a press briefing on Ebola in Abuja on Friday, Pate said while there was no evidence linking Nigeria’s case to the index case in Kenya through travel, although the viruses appeared to be closely related.

“We have had additional information on the isolated case from the imported virus,” the minister said.

He said analysis was conducted using laboratory at the Centre for Disease Control and laboratories of Professor Christian Happi at the Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun state.

“That case appears to be closely related to the case identified in the index case in Kenya,” he added.

“That is all that we can say at this stage based on the genomic analysis. There is no evidence of travel of that index case in Kenya that links it to Nigeria, but the viruses are appearing to be related.

“That may or may not change our understanding of the route of transmission, given that the virus itself takes time to change. But this is important new information that we have promised to inform, and we are doing so accordingly.”

Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said preventing Ebola is the collective responsibility of the government and the public.

Idris said controlling the disease requires adherence to simple but essential public health measures, including environmental and personal hygiene and regular handwashing.

He said the 2014 Ebola outbreak had underscored the importance of sustained public awareness and compliance with preventive measures.

“As we did say in this kind of situation, it’s a joint responsibility of the government, and there are things they expect you to do based on the way this virus is transmitted. They are simple things. It’s a contact issue,” Idris said.

“So, we need to address the issue of environmental control, personal hygiene, and washing, all those that we did in 2020 before, and in 2014.” (TheCable)