The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria currently has no active Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s index patient and her husband to Switzerland.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this on Monday, explaining that Nigerian medical teams had stabilised the patient before she was evacuated alongside her husband, who is also a contact of the case.
Janabi said the evacuation was carried out because both individuals are Swiss citizens. He commended Nigerian health workers for successfully managing the patient through the acute phase of the illness, noting that her condition had improved and was clinically stable.
He also praised the Federal Government, healthcare professionals, emergency responders and other partners for their coordinated efforts in containing the situation, describing the development as evidence of Africa’s capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
However, Janabi warned that the evacuation would not end surveillance activities in Nigeria. He said health authorities would continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the case, while Switzerland would take responsibility for the patient’s continued care and the follow-up of her husband, identified as contact number 53.
The WHO official stressed that sustained vigilance and contact tracing remain essential to preventing further transmission, despite Nigeria currently having no active Ebola cases.
