Nigeria has evacuated its first reported Ebola patient to Switzerland for further treatment. The Federal Government confirmed the evacuation on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the patient was stable and conscious before departure. He added that medical teams followed strict safety measures during the transfer.
The 42-year-old woman reportedly returned to Nigeria from Uganda on October 3. She travelled through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She developed symptoms on October 7, including fever, diarrhoea, body aches and a sore throat. She later sought treatment at private health facilities in Abuja.
Laboratory tests confirmed that she had the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced the confirmed infection on October 20.
Nigerian health authorities have identified 53 people who may have had contact with the patient. They include healthcare workers, domestic staff and her husband, a Swiss diplomat stationed in Nigeria.
The NCDC has activated its emergency response system. Officials are tracing contacts, conducting surveillance and testing suspected cases.
Health workers are monitoring identified contacts for 21 days after their last possible exposure. The NCDC has also urged hospitals to strengthen screening and infection prevention measures.
Two other suspected cases reported in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State tested negative, according to reports available at the time.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to remain calm and follow information from official health sources.
Authorities are investigating the source of the infection and working with international partners to prevent further transmission.
The government has also called on healthcare workers to report suspected cases promptly. Early detection and proper infection control remain important in containing the outbreak.
Meanwhile, health officials continue to monitor identified contacts and strengthen surveillance measures to protect the public.
