* None had tested positive at the time of the report.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the patient and her husband to Switzerland.
WHO Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi disclosed this in a statement on his official X handle on Monday.
Janabi, however, added that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland would manage the patient and follow up her husband.
He said the evacuation took place earlier in the morning, noting that both the patient and her husband were Swiss citizens.
According to him, the patient was clinically stable after Nigerian medical teams successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition.
Janabi congratulated the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in the Ebola response, describing the development as a remarkable achievement.
He said the successful management of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries worked together to respond to health emergencies.
However, the WHO regional director stressed that vigilance remained critical despite the evacuation, urging continued attention to contact monitoring and other response measures.
He said Nigeria would maintain close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland would assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and monitoring of contact number 53, her husband.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate had in a post on his official X handle confirmed the evacuation of the Ebola patient to Switzerland.
Pate said the evacuation was approved by him and carried out early on Monday, with the patient accompanied by her spouse, who remained asymptomatic.
The Minister said the patient was stable, conscious and communicating, while her laboratory test results were approaching baseline levels.
“The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline.
“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” he said.
Pate commended the clinical staff for providing quality care and public health personnel for ensuring that the evacuation complied with appropriate public health measures.
He said the government would provide further updates after the patient and her spouse arrived safely at their destination.
Pate also said public health measures remained in place to ensure that the imported virus was contained, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on credible information sources.
Nigeria confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease on Oct. 20, following laboratory confirmation of infection in a woman with recent travel history to Uganda.
The patient developed symptoms on Oct. 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria, and sought medical care in Abuja on Oct. 11, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) activated its incident management system, while health authorities commenced contact tracing, laboratory investigations and infection prevention measures.
The NCDC’s Oct. 24 situation report identified 53 contacts linked to the case, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s spouse.
None had tested positive at the time of the report.
On Oct. 23, Pate said genomic analysis showed that the virus isolated from the Nigerian patient appeared closely related to that identified in the index case in Kenya.
He, however, cautioned that the genetic relationship did not establish a direct transmission link between the two cases.
The Federal Government has also intensified surveillance at points of entry, strengthened infection prevention and control in health facilities, and urged healthcare workers to promptly report suspected cases.
Bundibugyo virus disease is caused by a species of Ebola virus. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
The government has urged Nigerians to observe basic preventive measures, cooperate with public health officials and avoid spreading unverified information about the disease.
(NAN)
