Nigeria Now Ebola-Free After Patient’s Evacuation to Switzerland — WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, has announced that Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s index patient and her husband to Switzerland.

Janabi disclosed this on Monday in a post on his X handle, adding that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the patient, while Switzerland would take responsibility for her continued medical care and follow-up with her husband.

“Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland.

“With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases. However, vigilance remains critical,” he said.

The patient, a 42-year-old Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja, was evacuated alongside her husband, who has remained asymptomatic. Both are Swiss citizens, according to Janabi.

The evacuation reportedly took place early Monday aboard a medical evacuation aircraft from the private jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Janabi said Nigerian medical teams had managed the patient through the acute phase of the illness before her condition improved sufficiently for the evacuation.

He, however, stressed that public health surveillance and contact tracing would continue despite the patient’s departure.

“Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband,” he said.

Health Minister Warns Patient May Still Be Infectious

In a separate post on Monday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that the patient had departed Abuja for Switzerland with his approval.

Pate said her condition had improved considerably, describing her as clinically stable, conscious and able to communicate, with her clinical and laboratory results approaching baseline levels.

He, however, warned that the improvement did not necessarily mean she was no longer infectious.

“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” the minister said.

Pate commended the clinical personnel who treated the patient and the public health teams that ensured the evacuation complied with appropriate public health protocols.

He also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on credible sources of information, assuring them that public health measures would continue to ensure the successful containment of the imported infection.

Nigeria Continues Monitoring Contacts

Nigeria confirmed its first imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on October 20, 2026, after laboratory tests detected the virus in the woman, who had recently travelled from Uganda.

Health authorities initially identified 44 contacts linked to the case, but the number later increased to 53. They include healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s husband.

The authorities are continuing to monitor the 52 contacts remaining under Nigeria’s supervision to detect any possible transmission.

Although the evacuation means there are currently no Ebola patients being treated in Nigeria, health officials have emphasised that continued surveillance, prompt reporting of symptoms and compliance with public health guidance remain essential to preventing further spread.