Ebola: WHO advises against restricting gatherings in Nigeria

The WHO said Wednesday that it had not advised Nigeria’s government to restrict public gatherings after an Ebola case was recorded in the country. Fifty-three people who had contact with the patient remain under daily surveillance for 21 days; Nigeria must then complete a further 21 days without another case—42 days in total—to be declared Ebola-free. Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, praised the speed of laboratory confirmation and sequencing, as well as the government’s response measures. He said the patient’s medical evacuation was requested by her country of origin and was not due to shortcomings in Nigeria’s capacity to manage the case.