Health
US Reports First Human Case of Flesh-Eating Screwworm
The United States has confirmed its first human case of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living flesh, in a Maryland resident recently returned from El Salvador, where an outbreak is ongoing.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patient began showing symptoms shortly after returning and was diagnosed on August 4, 2025.
“Screwworm larvae literally eat living tissue, which can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening infections if not treated promptly,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. She urged travelers to seek immediate medical care if symptoms appear after visiting affected areas.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the case on August 24, 2025, emphasizing close monitoring of travel-related risks and coordination with Central American health agencies. “We are taking this very seriously and working to prevent any further spread,” said HHS spokesperson Dr. Anthony Fauci.
While screwworm infections are more common in livestock, causing severe damage and economic losses, human cases are rare but dangerous. Dr. Jose Ortega, senior USDA veterinary official, explained the larvae burrow into live tissue, creating deep wounds difficult to treat.
In response, the USDA is building a sterile fly facility in Texas and has temporarily halted cattle imports from Mexico to control the pest’s spread. Mexico is also expanding its sterile fly operations, as Panama’s current facility is insufficient for the ongoing outbreak moving north from Central America.
No animal cases have been confirmed in the US this year, but experts stress that even a single human infection highlights the need for vigilance. “Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent serious consequences, both for public health and agriculture,” Walensky added.
Health
BREAKING: NCDC Flags 2 New Suspected Ebola Cases in North-East
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two new suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in the country’s North-East region.
In an update released on Saturday, October 31, 2026, the agency said the two individuals have been isolated. Contact identification and listing are ongoing, and laboratory testing is underway to confirm or rule out the infection.
“Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results,” the NCDC stated. The agency advised the public to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation, and follow guidance from public health authorities. Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
The development comes after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20. That case involved a 42-year-old woman who had travelled from Uganda to Abuja and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. She was later medically evacuated to Switzerland along with her husband.
Health authorities continue to monitor contacts linked to the earlier confirmed case while strengthening surveillance nationwide.
Health
Nigeria’s First Imported Ebola Patient Moved to Switzerland
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed on Monday that the country’s first imported Ebola patient has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland.
In a statement posted on X, Pate said the patient was clinically improving, stable and conscious but remained potentially infectious, necessitating strict safety protocols throughout the evacuation process.
The patient travelled with her spouse, who has remained asymptomatic. The minister commended healthcare workers for their efforts in managing the case.
Pate assured Nigerians that public health measures remain in place to contain the virus and urged citizens to stay vigilant while relying only on credible information.
Health
Ebola: Nigeria Sends Back Swiss Woman Via Medivac Plane
The patient who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria was flown out of Nigeria this morning through a medivac plane which was already at the airport waiting to evacuate her.
A Swiss woman diagnosed with Ebola virus in Nigeria is set to be evacuated from the country early this morning through an air ambulance at the private jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Ohibaba News learned the patient who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria was flown out of Nigeria this morning through a medivac plane which was already at the airport waiting to evacuate her.
Our Reporter deployed to the General Aviation Terminal later obtained pictures of the arrival of a convoy of vehicular ambulance from Abuja city centre with diplomatic vehicles in the entourage.
The three vehicle convoy had an international Agency vehicle entering the Private Jet section of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.
Airport officials cordoned off the private wing of the airport but news men eventually obtained videos of a medivac plane with crews eventually evacuating the sick passenger suspected to be the Ebola index case due to the special nature of the medical evacuation.
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