The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the index 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 posted on his official X handle on Monday.
Janabi said Nigerian health authorities would continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the case, while Swiss authorities would take responsibility for the patient’s continued treatment and follow-up of her husband, identified as contact number 53.
The evacuation took place earlier on Monday morning, with Janabi confirming that both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens.
According to him, the patient was clinically stable before the evacuation, following successful treatment by Nigerian medical teams during the acute phase of the illness.
He commended the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners for their contributions to managing the case and coordinating the response.
Janabi described the development as a significant achievement, highlighting the capacity of Nigerian health professionals to manage serious infectious disease cases and the importance of cooperation among countries in responding to public health emergencies.
He said the successful stabilisation of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries work together to contain health threats and protect lives.
Despite the evacuation and the absence of active Ebola cases in Nigeria, the WHO regional director warned against complacency, stressing that continued vigilance remained essential.
He emphasised the importance of monitoring identified contacts and sustaining other response measures to ensure that any potential symptoms or further transmission risks are promptly detected and addressed.
Under the arrangement, Nigeria will maintain surveillance of the 52 contacts within its jurisdiction, while Switzerland will oversee the patient’s continued medical management and monitor her husband.
The development marks a significant stage in Nigeria’s response to the imported Ebola case, although health authorities must sustain contact tracing and surveillance to guard against any further spread of the disease.
