By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the affected patient and her husband to Switzerland.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, confirming that both individuals had been evacuated earlier in the day.
Janabi said the patient and her husband, who are both Swiss citizens, were transferred to Switzerland for continued medical care and follow-up.
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 before the evacuation.
He commended the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners for their contributions to the country’s Ebola response, describing the development as a remarkable achievement.
The WHO regional director said the successful management of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries collaborate to address health emergencies.
Despite the development, Janabi stressed that continued vigilance remained essential to prevent further transmission and ensure effective monitoring of individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
He said Nigeria would continue to monitor 52 contacts, while Switzerland would take responsibility for the patient’s continued medical management and follow-up of her husband, identified as contact number 53.
The WHO official emphasised the importance of sustaining contact tracing and other public health response measures, noting that the evacuation did not eliminate the need for continued surveillance.
The development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s response to the Ebola incident, with health authorities expected to maintain monitoring and precautionary measures to safeguard public health.
