Uganda has urged the public to remain calm and vigilant after Nigeria reported a confirmed Ebola case involving a woman who travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for business.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health said preliminary information indicated that the Nigerian woman transited through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms before developing them after arriving in Nigeria.

The ministry said the transit through Uganda did not establish that the woman contracted the virus in the country, adding that the location of exposure remained under investigation.

The ministry said Nigeria was yet to provide detailed information on the woman’s travel itinerary and clinical history, which would help guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.

It said the information would be critical in establishing the circumstances surrounding the reported infection and determining the appropriate public health response.

“We wish to clarify that, as at the time of this statement, Uganda has no confirmed active Ebola cases,” the ministry said.

“The Government of Nigeria is yet to provide detailed information on her travel itinerary and clinical history which will guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.”

The Ugandan government also announced plans to strengthen screening and public health controls at points of entry, with the Ministry of Health working alongside relevant agencies.

The ministry said limited provisions had been maintained for humanitarian and diplomatic movement, adding that the measures at entry points would be reinforced.

It urged the public to continue observing basic hygiene practices, including regular handwashing and the use of sanitiser, as investigations into the reported case continue.

The ministry said it would provide verified updates through its official communication channels and appealed to the public to remain vigilant without spreading unverified information.

On Tuesday, Nigeria recorded a case of Ebola in a female patient who travelled from Uganda in East Africa to Abuja, capital of the West African state.

Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said the diagnosis had been confirmed by laboratory tests.

The patient is in isolation and receiving medical care after being admitted to a hospital in Abuja.

Health authorities have begun contact-tracing to prevent further spread, with 44 close contacts of the woman identified.

Nigeria, the first West African state to report a case linked to the current Ebola crisis in East Africa, successfully stopped a previous outbreak in 2014.

Ebola is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop, and it can lead to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients develop internal and external bleeding.

The disease spreads from one person to another by contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit.

The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which began in May, has claimed at least 4,600 lives, with more than 9,500 cases recorded, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports.

It was caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which is relatively rare, with no approved vaccine or treatment - though trials are under way.