Epidemic becomes the most geographically widespread in history

African ministers have been called to an urgent health summit after Nigeria confirmed its first case in the outbreak of the deadly Ebola fever tearing through eastern Congo.

Confirmation of a case in Africa’s most populous nation came days after a cluster was detected in Kenya and has heightened questions about border screening checks designed to stop the virus spreading from its epicentre in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

With cases now found in West Africa, Central Africa and East Africa, the epidemic “has already become the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the continent’s main public health body.

DRC has recorded close to 10,000 cases since an outbreak began in mid-May , with around half of them dying of the haemorrhagic fever.

The Nigeria case meant “Ebola is now affecting three regions of Africa,” warned Dr Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease…