Kathmandu. Africa faces a more complex outbreak as Ebola virus infection has been confirmed in Nigeria, warned World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Director Matshidiso Moeti. He said at an online media briefing on Thursday that the virus entered Nigeria from East Africa, confirming it as the first case seen in the western part of the continent. Nigeria announced on Tuesday that one woman had been confirmed infected with the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. The woman was a diplomat and had recently returned from a trip to Uganda. This same species of virus has caused a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has become the fourth African country affected by this outbreak. Kenya in East Africa has also reported nine infections since October 6. The latest incident recalls the devastating Ebola outbreak that spread across West Africa in 2014. The outbreak, which lasted from the end of 2013 to 2016, killed more than 11,000 people. However, Nigeria is expected to be able to respond effectively this time due to its experience in successfully controlling the Ebola outbreak in 2014. According to health officials, the latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC has become the deadliest in the country's history. Since mid-May, more than nine thousand infected people have been found there, and 4,381 people have died. Ebola virus disease can be serious and sometimes fatal. As the latest infection begins to spread to various countries, health officials face challenges in preventing its further spread.
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