Nigerian headed to India dies showing Ebola symptoms

The patient's health deteriorated during her transit phase at Abu Dhabi international airport

A 35-year-old Nigerian woman, travelling from Nigeria to India for cancer treatment, has died in the UAE after showing symptoms similar to those of deadly Ebola virus, health authorities said here Sunday.

During her transit phase at Abu Dhabi international airport, the patient's health deteriorated and despite prompt medical assistance she could not be successfully resuscitated, Xinhua quoted the health authorities as saying in a WAM report.

The woman showed signs 'that may be consistent with Ebola virus infection', although her existing medical condition provided an adequate medical explanation, it added.

All contacts of the patient, including her husband who was the only person sitting next to her on the plane and five medical professionals who treated her, are in isolation pending the result of Ebola testing on the patient. Those people are, as of now, all well and have showed no symptoms, the authority said.

The ministry's statement comes amid a growing international scare as the Ebola outbreak continues to spread following a slow response from the international community to aid affected West African countries.

Earlier this month, Dubai's state-owned carrier Emirates Airline, the biggest airline in the Middle East, cancelled flights to Guinea amid Ebola concerns until further notice.