Nigeria’s first imported Ebola patient has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland for further medical treatment, as health authorities continue efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Federal Government confirmed that the 42-year-old woman, who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, departed Nigeria on Monday, October 26, alongside her husband.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the patient’s condition had improved significantly before the evacuation. She was stable, conscious, communicating and showing encouraging laboratory results.
However, the minister cautioned that her improved condition did not necessarily mean she was no longer infectious, stressing that strict public health protocols were followed throughout the transfer.
The patient’s husband, a Swiss diplomat who had remained without symptoms, was also evacuated. Upon arrival in Switzerland, the woman was taken to Geneva University Hospitals for treatment, while her husband was placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
Contact tracing continues in Nigeria
Despite the patient’s departure, Nigerian health authorities have continued surveillance, contact tracing and investigations to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had identified 53 contacts linked to the confirmed case. Following the evacuation, Nigerian authorities continued monitoring the remaining contacts, while Switzerland assumed responsibility for the husband’s monitoring.
The contacts include healthcare workers, household members, domestic staff and other individuals who may have encountered the patient during her illness.
Nigeria confirmed the case on October 20 after the woman, who had travelled from Uganda through Addis Ababa, developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive for Ebola.
The government has activated its emergency response system and strengthened surveillance measures to detect potential infections and prevent further transmission.
Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, cooperate with public health officials and rely on verified information from credible sources.
The evacuation marks a new phase in Nigeria’s response to the imported case, but officials have emphasised that continued monitoring and strict infection-prevention measures remain essential to containing the virus.
