Nigeria Evacuates Ebola Patient to Switzerland for Care

On October 26, Nigeria confirmed the evacuation of its first case of Bundibugyo virus disease, an Ebola-related illness, to Switzerland for further medical care. The patient, a 42-year-old woman, was evacuated from Abuja on Monday aboard a medical evacuation aircraft, accompanied by her husband, who remains asymptomatic.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, confirmed the evacuation, stating that the patient was clinically stable and had shown significant improvement prior to the transfer. However, he cautioned that this improvement does not indicate she is no longer infectious, emphasizing the need for strict safety measures during the evacuation.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 53 primary contacts linked to the case, who are being monitored to prevent further transmission. The minister urged vigilance among Nigerians and reliance on credible information sources as the country responds to this imported infection.