Nigeria, Oct. 22 -- Nigeria's months of preparation for a possible Ebola outbreak helped health authorities confirm the country's first imported case within 24 hours, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has said.

Speaking on Arise News Television's Prime Time programme on Wednesday, Mr Pate said the government had strengthened disease surveillance, expanded laboratory capacity, trained health workers and assessed states' readiness before the case was detected.

He said these preparations enabled authorities to respond quickly, confirm the infection, and notify the World Health Organisation (WHO) in accordance with the International Health Regulations.

"Within 24 hours we were able to confirm it. We wer...