Nigeria Has No Active Ebola Cases After Patient’s Evacuation to Switzerland
Nigeria has successfully managed and medically evacuated its imported Ebola index patient to Switzerland, resulting in no active cases in the country. This achievement stems from rigorous public health measures, international cooperation, and ongoing contact tracing efforts, particularly in Plateau State, to prevent further spread.
Nigeria currently has no active confirmed Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of its first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease and her husband to Switzerland, although surveillance and contact tracing remain ongoing.
The 42-year-old Swiss woman, who arrived in Nigeria on October 3 after travelling from Uganda, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical care in Abuja on October 11. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20, after which she received treatment in isolation before being evacuated on October 26, following significant clinical improvement.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Swiss authorities assumed responsibility for the patient’s treatment and the follow-up of her husband, identified as contact number 53. The WHO has clarified that Nigeria has not yet been officially declared Ebola-free, as containment measures and the required monitoring period must be completed.
The Plateau State Government has also strengthened its preparedness, reactivating isolation centres and intensifying disease surveillance to guard against possible transmission. Commissioner for Health Nicholas Ba’amlong said an emergency preparedness team had been directed to assess safety measures at the airport, while local government areas bordering neighbouring states had been alerted.
Residents have been advised to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with suspected cases and promptly report possible symptoms to health authorities. The 12th Plateau State Council on Health meeting also approved 10 resolutions aimed at improving healthcare delivery, including establishing a state health trust fund, strengthening disease surveillance, addressing health worker shortages and creating an emergency fund for public health threats.
Nigeria’s response continues through contact monitoring, investigations into alerts and other containment measures, with support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
The patient is receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals, while her husband has been placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich; Swiss authorities have said the facilities have the personnel and resources needed to manage their cases safely.
Preliminary genomic analysis found similarities between the virus identified in Nigeria and that detected in Kenya, but the genetic relationship does not establish a direct transmission link, and investigators are still examining the possible source of infection.
Bundibugyo virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials, prompting authorities to maintain surveillance at points of entry, reinforce infection prevention in health facilities, and urge Nigerians to rely on verified public health information.