Deborah Tolu-Kolawole and Animasahahun Salman
The Swiss authorities have confirmed the safe arrival of Nigeria’s Ebola index patient and her spouse in Switzerland, with the patient receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals and her husband placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed this in an update posted on his official X handle on Monday evening, adding that contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures were continuing in Nigeria.
“The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today,” Pate stated.
He said the patient was receiving care at Geneva University Hospitals, while her husband was being isolated at University Hospital Zurich.
The minister also disclosed that Switzerland had expressed appreciation for the medical care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the cooperation between both countries and the World Health Organisation that facilitated the evacuation.
“In our telephone conversation, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the close cooperation between our authorities and WHO that made the evacuation possible,” he said.
Pate thanked the clinical and public health teams in Nigeria and Switzerland, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs and the WHO for their collaboration.
He also wished the patient a continued recovery, while assuring Nigerians that the government’s response to the imported infection remained active.
“Here in Nigeria, contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures continue, with support from Africa CDC and WHO AFRO. We will provide regular updates through NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,” the minister added.
The update followed an earlier announcement by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, that Nigeria had no active Ebola cases following the evacuation of the patient and her husband to Switzerland.
Janabi said Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 identified contacts, while Swiss authorities would take responsibility for the patient’s further treatment and the follow-up of her husband, identified as contact number 53.
“With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” the WHO regional director said.
He, however, stressed that continued vigilance was essential, noting that the absence of active cases did not eliminate the need for surveillance and contact tracing.
Earlier on Monday, Pate confirmed that the evacuation had been carried out with his approval, explaining that the patient’s condition had improved considerably before she left Abuja.
“I confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland,” the minister said.
According to him, the patient was stable, conscious and communicating, while her laboratory results were approaching baseline levels.
“The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline,” he added.
Tinubu vows to stem doctors’ japa, urges return of Nigerian medics
The minister cautioned, however, that the patient could still be infectious despite her improved clinical condition, explaining that strict public health protocols were followed during the evacuation.
“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” he said.
The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20, following the patient’s recent travel from Uganda.
The infection was identified as the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
Following the confirmation, Nigerian health authorities activated response measures, including contact tracing, surveillance and monitoring of people who might have been exposed.
The government initially reported that 44 contacts had been identified, while the WHO’s subsequent update put the number being monitored in Nigeria at 52, in addition to the patient’s husband.
Ebola is a severe viral disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated materials. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal or external bleeding.
The incubation period can last up to 21 days, making continued monitoring of exposed individuals important even after the infected patient has been evacuated.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on information from credible sources as health authorities continue surveillance and other measures aimed at preventing further transmission.
Kebbi activates border screening
The Kebbi State Ministry of Health has intensified measures to prevent and contain the potential spread of the Ebola virus, with plans to introduce passenger screening at designated entry and exit points across the state.
The proposed screening exercise will cover selected border points and the Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi as part of efforts to strengthen disease surveillance and facilitate the early detection of suspected cases.
The ministry, through its Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Unit, said it was strengthening its preparedness to ensure a timely and coordinated response to any potential Ebola-related public health emergency.
As part of the exercise, a team of public health officials recently visited the Ahmadu Bello International Airport to assess preparedness and identify measures needed to improve disease surveillance.
The team, according to the ministry, comprised the State Director of Public Health, Alhaji Usman Magaji; State Epidemiologist, Murtala Jibril; State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Abubakar Zagga; and One Health Pillar Lead, Dr Ahmad Muhd Aliyu.
The officials reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting residents through strengthened surveillance, early detection and coordinated emergency response mechanisms.
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