The Executive of Nigeria and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported this Monday the medical transfer to Switzerland of the only person with a confirmed case of Ebola in the country. With this evacuation, Nigeria no longer registers active infections from the virus, despite being one of the States affected by the outbreak declared in mid-May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"I confirm that, with my approval, the imported case of Ebola has left early in the day from Abuja heading to Switzerland," said the Nigerian Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, who stated in a message on social media that the transfer took place after a "great improvement" of the patient, who is "stable" and "conscious."
The minister specified that the woman can still transmit the disease and that the necessary procedures have been activated. "This does not mean that she cannot infect, so there are protocols in place. The patient has been evacuated along with her husband, who remains asymptomatic," added Pate, who expressed his recognition to the teams responsible for both medical care and the evacuation to Swiss territory.
At the same time, he emphasized that "all public health measures remain active to ensure a successful containment of the imported virus." "I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and to rely on information from credible sources," stressed the Health Minister, insisting on the importance of not lowering their guard.
On the other hand, the WHO Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, confirmed the transfer of the patient and her husband, reminding that both hold Swiss nationality and that the woman is "clinically stable." "The Nigerian medical team successfully treated her during the acute phase of the disease and managed to stabilize her condition," he praised, highlighting the work done in the African country.
"On behalf of the WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, the health personnel, the doctors, the emergency response teams, and all those who have participated in the response. This is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to what Africa can achieve when we work together," he noted, highlighting the cooperation between institutions and professionals.
In this line, Janabi has emphasized that "after the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently does not register any cases of Ebola," although he has warned that "maintaining surveillance remains essential." "Nigeria will continue to closely monitor 52 contacts, while Switzerland will take responsibility for the ongoing care of the patient and the monitoring of contact number 53: her husband," he specified.
Nigeria had recently become the fourth country, along with the DRC, Kenya, and Uganda — which on July 28 declared itself free of the virus after two deaths and 20 infections — to confirm cases of Ebola linked to the current outbreak in Congolese territory. This epidemic focus has caused nearly 10,000 infections and more than 4,800 deaths, constituting for months the deadliest outbreak recorded in the history of the DRC.