Nigeria Records No Ebola Case After Patient’s Evacuation – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that Nigeria currently has no Ebola case following the evacuation of an infected patient and her husband to Switzerland for continued medical care and monitoring.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a statement shared on his official X handle on Monday.

Janabi explained that the patient and her husband were evacuated to Switzerland earlier on Monday morning. Both individuals are Swiss citizens.

He stated that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 people who had contact with the patient, while Switzerland would take responsibility for her further treatment and monitor her husband, who is the 53rd contact.

According to the WHO official, the patient was in a clinically stable condition before the evacuation. He credited Nigerian medical teams with successfully managing her through the most critical stage of the illness and stabilising her health.

Janabi commended the Federal Government, healthcare workers, medical professionals, emergency responders and other partners who contributed to the country’s response to the Ebola case.

He described the successful management and evacuation of the patient as a major achievement for Nigeria’s public health system and the teams involved in the response.

The WHO regional director also noted that the development demonstrated the ability of African countries to respond effectively to public health emergencies through cooperation, professional expertise and coordinated action.

Despite the patient’s evacuation, Janabi warned that continued vigilance remained necessary to prevent further transmission of the disease.

He stressed the need to sustain contact tracing, monitoring and other public health measures until the response process was completed.

Nigeria will therefore continue following up on the 52 contacts within its territory, while Swiss health authorities will oversee the patient’s continued medical care and monitor her husband.

The WHO’s announcement comes as health authorities continue to maintain surveillance and implement necessary measures to prevent the spread of Ebola.