WHO Says Nigeria Has No Ebola Cases After Patient, Husband Evacuated To Switzerland | Sahara Reporters

Janabi disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the patient and her husband, who is also her contact, were evacuated earlier in the day.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Janabi, has announced that Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s index patient and her husband to Switzerland.

Janabi disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the patient and her husband, who is also her contact, were evacuated earlier in the day.

He said both individuals are Swiss citizens, while the patient’s condition had stabilised following treatment by Nigerian medical personnel.

“The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition,” Janabi said.

He congratulated the Nigerian government, healthcare workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in managing the case, describing the outcome as evidence of Africa’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.

“On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response,” he said.

“This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together,” he added.

Janabi said Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the case, while Swiss authorities would take responsibility for the continued management of the patient and 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,” he said.

“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.”

The WHO regional director described the development as a moment of pride for Africa, highlighting the role of local expertise and collaboration in responding to the outbreak.

“Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that the index patient had departed Abuja for Switzerland for further medical care.

Pate said the patient was stable, conscious and communicating before the evacuation, with her clinical laboratory test results approaching baseline levels.

However, he warned that her clinical improvement did not mean she was no longer infectious.

“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,” the minister said.

He also confirmed that the patient was evacuated alongside her husband, who had remained asymptomatic.

Pate commended the medical personnel who treated the patient and the public health officials who coordinated the evacuation, saying the transfer was carried out in line with appropriate public health measures.

The evacuation followed Nigeria’s confirmation of its first imported Ebola case involving the 42-year-old Ugandan woman, who is reportedly married to a Swiss diplomat.

In an update issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health said the patient was showing signs of recovery and that there was no evidence of community transmission.

The ministry also said contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring were ongoing, alongside efforts to strengthen national coordination, health facility preparedness and public health response measures.

Although the patient and her husband have left Nigeria, health authorities say contact tracing and monitoring remain critical to containing the virus.