A Swiss woman who contracted Ebola while in Nigeria was medically evacuated to Switzerland on Monday, alongside her husband, as Nigerian authorities continue monitoring individuals who had contact with her. The woman represents Nigeria’s first confirmed case in the current Ebola outbreak.
Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate stated that the patient departed Abuja early Monday with his approval. He reported her condition had improved significantly, describing her as stable, conscious, and communicative. However, Pate emphasized that strict infection control protocols remain in place because she may still be contagious. Her husband, a Swiss diplomat serving in Nigeria, has not exhibited any symptoms.
The couple arrived in Switzerland aboard a medical evacuation flight, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The woman is receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospital, while her husband remains in isolation at Zurich University Hospital. Swiss health officials assured the public that both facilities are fully prepared to treat the couple and that there is no risk of contagion to the wider population.
The World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, explained that the evacuation was facilitated due to the patients’ Swiss citizenship. He noted that Nigerian medical teams had successfully stabilized the woman after managing her through the acute stage of the illness. Janabi added that Nigeria was continuing to monitor 52 individuals identified as contacts of the patient. With the evacuation, Nigeria currently has no active Ebola cases, though authorities continue to stress vigilance.
The woman tested positive after returning to Abuja from Uganda, but Nigerian officials have not yet determined the exact source of her infection. Switzerland’s foreign ministry indicated that she had not recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and was believed to have contracted the virus during her travels in Uganda with her husband.
Regional health authorities have linked recent Ebola cases in Nigeria and Kenya to travel through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on October 3. Uganda had previously reported Ebola cases but declared itself free of the virus ahead of this period.
Kenya, which has confirmed nine Ebola cases including two deaths this month, on Monday released 20 individuals from quarantine following their exposure to the virus. The Kenyan Ministry of Health stated that each person met the criteria for release, including a 21-day symptom-free period since their last contact. An additional 98 contacts are expected to be released beginning next Tuesday.
Nigerian officials have maintained that containment measures remain active nationwide and encouraged the public to remain alert as they monitor the situation closely.