Ebola: WHO Gives Nigeria Clean Bill, Says No New Case; Index Case, Husband Evacuated To Switzerland

By Ayodele Oni

The World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, has confirmed that Nigeria’s index Ebola patient was evacuated to Switzerland because she is a Swiss citizen and had stabilised.

He added that Nigeria currently has no Ebola case following the medical evacuation of the patient and her husband to Switzerland.

Janabi disclosed this in a statement on his official X handle on Monday, adding that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland would manage the patient and follow up with her husband.

Janabi, said the patient was clinically stable after being successfully managed by healthcare workers in Nigeria.

The patient and her husband, who is also a Swiss citizen, were evacuated to Switzerland early Monday morning aboard a medical evacuation aircraft.

She was airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 6am.

Janabi assured that Switzerland would assume responsibility for the patient’s continued medical management and the monitoring of her husband, who is contact number 53.

Nigeria, meanwhile, will continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the confirmed case.

Janabi congratulated the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in the Ebola response, describing the development as a remarkable achievement.

He said the successful management of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries worked together to respond to health emergencies.

However, the WHO regional director stressed that vigilance remained critical despite the evacuation, urging continued attention to contact monitoring and other response measures.