Nigeria becomes 4th country with confirmed Ebola death

ABUJA, Nigeria — West Africa’s current Ebola outbreak has spread to a fourth country, after an ill Liberian man developed symptoms on a plane ride to Nigeria and later died.

As soon as the plane landed Tuesday, the 40-year-old passenger, a Liberian government official on his way to a conference, was moved into an isolation ward. He died Friday.

It is the first case of Ebola to be confirmed in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, since the outbreak began in West Africa earlier this year, according to Nigerian Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu

Ebola, one of the world’s most deadly and contagious diseases, has killed at least 660 and infected 1,093 in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and now Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization.

‘‘All ports of entry into Nigeria including airports, seaports, and land borders are placed on red alert,’’ he said. ‘‘Ministry of Health specialists have been positioned in all entry points. Active surveillance has also been stepped up.’’

Authorities are currently investigating all persons who may have come into contact with the man who died, said Chukwu. ‘‘We have already gotten in touch with all the passengers.”