The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised countries against imposing travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.
In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation said it is
closely monitoring measures introduced by countries in response to the outbreak
and would verify travel and trade restrictions where necessary.
“WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade
with, affected countries,” the organisation said.
The advisory comes as Nigeria confirmed its first imported
case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
becoming the fifth country to detect the virus since an outbreak was declared
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 15, 2026.
Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social
welfare, said on Tuesday that the patient is a woman who recently travelled to
Nigeria from Uganda.
Pate said her symptoms began on October 7, four days after
arriving in Nigeria, and she sought medical attention at a private health
facility in Abuja on October 11. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection on
October 20.
He noted that the patient is currently in isolation and
receiving medical care, while investigations are ongoing to establish the
likely source of infection and trace her movements and contacts.
The ministry said 44 contacts had been identified and were
being monitored.
Authorities have also intensified infection prevention and
control measures at the health facility where the patient received treatment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)
has activated its incident management system to coordinate the response.
WHO said it is supporting Nigerian health authorities with
case investigations, contact tracing, infection prevention and control
measures, and the provision of essential supplies, including personal
protective equipment for health workers.
WHO urged countries in the region to maintain heightened
surveillance and preparedness as the outbreak in the DRC continues to evolve.
Meanwhile, Kenya has reported nine cases linked to an
imported case in recent weeks.
WHO called on countries to strengthen disease surveillance,
ensure laboratories can safely test suspected cases, prepare rapid-response and
clinical teams, and reinforce infection prevention measures in public and
private health facilities.
It also advised countries to ensure essential supplies are
available, engage communities and strengthen monitoring at points of entry.
The organisation said its assessment of the outbreak’s risks
was being regularly reviewed to incorporate new developments.
US ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY
On Monday, the United States advised its citizens to
reconsider travel to Kenya because of the risk posed by Ebola and other
security concerns.
The advisory comes amid growing anxiety about the spread of
the disease and its potential implications for international travel.
Larry Madowo, CNN international correspondent, also said on
Tuesday that he had been denied a visa to El Salvador over concerns about Ebola
in Kenya.
Madowo, who is Kenyan, said El Salvador had barred citizens
of eight African countries from entering its territory, including Ethiopia,
Angola, the DRC, Burundi and the Central African Republic.
The restrictions contrast with WHO’s advice against imposing
travel and trade restrictions on countries affected by the outbreak.
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