The World Health Organisation has said Nigeria currently has no confirmed cases of Ebola, reassuring the public amid concerns over the spread of the deadly viral disease in the country.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohammed Janabi, who disclosed this on Monday, said that the country is free of the virus after the medical evacuation of the only confirmed case and her contact from Nigeria to Switzerland.
“Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland. With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” Janabi said.
PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported that the Federal Government confirmed that the index case in Nigeria has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland.
“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 index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline,” the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed on Monday in a post on X.
Reacting to the minister’s post, Janabi said both the patient and her husband were evacuated because they were Swiss Citizens.
He added, “The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition.”
The WHO regional director, however, congratulated Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response.
“This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together,” he said.
Janabi, however, stressed the importance of maintaining vigilance and strengthening surveillance to ensure that any suspected case is promptly detected and investigated.
“However, vigilance remains critical. Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband.
“Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health,” he said.
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