The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
First Ebola patients in Nigeria and Kenya might have crossed paths at Uganda airport
The first Ebola patients confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria might have crossed paths at an airport in Uganda earlier this month, African health officials said Thursday as they race to trace and slow an outbreak that has spread to several African countries.
Two Ebola cases in Kenya and Nigeria may have crossed paths at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on Oct. 3, according to African health officials investigating the outbreak. The two patients are reported to have travelled through the airport on that date, and authorities are examining whether an interaction occurred there.
Nigeria announced its first Ebola case, stating the patient had traveled from Uganda. Ugandan authorities have disputed exposure in Uganda and said the patient had traveled to Congo, a claim now under review by health officials.
Kenya has recorded nine cases linked to a traveler who returned from Congo to Kenya via Uganda. Nigerian authorities say they are tracing dozens of contacts, with figures evolving as investigations continue.
Officials say Congo’s outbreak began in May and has become geographically widespread, with more than 9,500 infections and the virus spreading across multiple provinces and health zones. The World Health Organization has noted gaps in travel histories supplied to it, while Ugandan authorities have not confirmed any exposure at their airports.