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WHO warns of growing complexity as Ebola spreads from DR Congo

Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria have current or recent cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Uganda, which previously recorded cases, has since been declared Ebola-free.

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A person wearing protective clothing, a mask and goggles outside a building, with parts of other people in protective clothing visible at both edges.
A person wearing protective clothing, a mask and goggles. The location, date and direct connection to the current Ebola outbreak have not been established.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the response to the Ebola outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo is becoming more complex as cases spread to countries in East and West Africa.

Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria have current or recent cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Uganda also recorded cases earlier this year but has since been declared Ebola-free.

Wessam Mankoula, head of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the first patients in Nigeria and Kenya both left Entebbe on October 3. He said a possible encounter between them was under investigation.

Africa CDC said there was no validated information that the Nigerian patient had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pavel Ursu, the WHO representative in Nigeria, also said the information provided to the organisation included no travel outside Uganda.

WHO emergency response manager Patrick Otim said the source of the patient's infection remained unknown. He said health authorities were piecing together her travel history.

Kenya's Ministry of Health reported eight additional cases after confirming its first case this month. Patrick Amoth, the ministry's director-general, said officials had traced all 135 contacts of the first patient.

Nigeria is tracing 44 contacts. Mankoula said additional contacts had since been identified but did not provide an updated figure.