The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigeria free of Ebola cases following the evacuation of the country’s index patient to Switzerland for continued treatment and care.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, announced this on Monday in a statement shared on his verified X account.
Janabi said Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts linked to the imported case, while Swiss health authorities would take responsibility for the patient’s continued medical care and monitor her husband, the 53rd contact.
He disclosed that the patient was clinically stable after Nigerian medical teams successfully managed the acute phase of her illness and stabilised her condition before the evacuation.
According to Janabi, the transfer of the patient means Nigeria currently has no Ebola case requiring treatment within the country, although surveillance and contact monitoring will continue.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had earlier confirmed an imported Ebola case linked to Uganda and placed 53 contacts under monitoring in Abuja.
Despite the latest declaration, health authorities are expected to maintain close surveillance of the identified contacts to detect any possible symptoms and prevent further transmission.
The WHO’s announcement marks a significant development in Nigeria’s response to the imported case, with continued monitoring remaining essential to safeguarding public health.
