WHO Clarifies: Nigeria Not Yet Declared Ebola-Free

The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that Nigeria has not been declared Ebola-free, following confusion over the medical evacuation of the index patient linked to the country’s first imported case of the disease.

The clarification came after the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, announced on Monday that the patient and her husband had been medically evacuated to Switzerland.

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

He explained that the evacuation was carried out because both individuals are Swiss citizens and the patient was clinically stable.

Janabi commended the Nigerian medical team for managing the patient through the acute phase of the illness and stabilising her condition.

He also praised the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners for their efforts in containing the outbreak.

Describing the response as a remarkable achievement, Janabi said Nigeria currently had no Ebola cases following the evacuation of the patient and her husband.

However, in a statement made available to reporters, WHO stressed that the absence of confirmed cases in the country did not mean Nigeria had been officially declared Ebola-free.

“WHO has not declared Nigeria Ebola-free. Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland. Health officials are closely monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed,” the agency stated.

The WHO further explained that, under the International Health Regulations, a country can only be declared Ebola-free after a 42-day period following the last confirmed case testing negative twice for the virus or, in the present situation, the evacuation of the confirmed case.

The period is followed by heightened surveillance to detect any possible new infections and prevent further transmission.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had earlier said further updates would be provided after the patient and her husband arrived safely at their destination.

The clarification underscores that, although Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, health authorities must continue monitoring exposed contacts and maintaining surveillance before the country can be declared free of the outbreak.