Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola index patient has been evacuated to Switzerland for further medical treatment, following approval by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate.
The 42-year-old woman, who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja, departed the country early Monday aboard a medical evacuation aircraft from the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Her husband, who has remained asymptomatic, accompanied her on the flight.
The evacuation followed reports that a convoy of ambulances and diplomatic vehicles arrived at the airport before the aircraft departed. Minister Pate later confirmed the development, saying the patient’s condition had improved significantly and she was stable, conscious and able to communicate.
However, the minister cautioned that the patient could still be infectious despite her clinical improvement, adding that strict public health protocols were observed throughout the evacuation to minimise the risk of further transmission.
The development comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention continues contact tracing and surveillance. As of Sunday, the agency had identified 53 contacts linked to the confirmed case, including healthcare workers, household members and others who may have been exposed. Health authorities say monitoring and other containment measures remain in place to prevent further spread of the virus.
