The World Health Organization (WHO) has said Nigeria’s index Ebola patient was evacuated to Switzerland because she is a Swiss citizen and was in a stable condition.
WHO regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, in a social.media post on his X handle on Monday, stated that the patient was clinically stable after being successfully managed by efficient healthcare workers in Nigeria.
The patient and her husband, who is also a Swiss citizen, were flown to Switzerland early Monday morning aboard a medical evacuation aircraft.
She was airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja around 6am.
Janabi noted that Switzerland would take over responsibility for the patient’s continuous medical management and the monitoring of her husband, who is contact number 53.
In the meantime, Nigeria will continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the confirmed index case.
The top WHO official noted that Nigeria presently has no Ebola cases following the evacuation.
“Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland,” Janabi said.
“The reasons for the evacuation are: Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens. The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition.”
He sent congratulations messages to the Nigerian government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in the response, describing the development as a demonstration of African expertise, resilience and leadership in public health.
He informed that vigilance remains critical as Nigeria continues contact tracing and surveillance to prevent further transmission.
Coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, did say the patient’s improvement did not mean she was no longer infectious, adding that strict public health protocols remain in place.
Pate said additional updates would be made available after the patient and her husband arrive safely at their destination.
