Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient has been evacuated to Switzerland aboard a medical evacuation aircraft from Abuja, the Federal Government has confirmed.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced on Monday that the evacuation took place earlier in the morning with his approval.
The patient, a 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman married to a Swiss diplomat based in Nigeria, departed through the private aviation section of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to ARISE News, its crew observed a convoy of ambulances and diplomatic vehicles arriving at the airport before a medical evacuation aircraft departed with the patient.
The news organisation also reported that airport officials restricted access to the private aviation section during the operation.
The evacuation follows the confirmation of Nigeria’s first imported case of Ebola disease in more than a decade on October 20, 2026.
Health Minister Confirms Patient’s Condition
Pate said the patient’s condition had improved significantly before the evacuation.
He described her as stable, conscious and communicating, adding that her laboratory test results were approaching baseline levels.
The minister said the patient’s spouse accompanied her on the flight and remained asymptomatic.
However, Pate cautioned that the patient’s improved condition did not necessarily mean she was no longer infectious.
He said strict public health protocols were followed during the evacuation and acknowledged the clinical teams and public health personnel involved in the operation.
The minister added that further updates would be provided following the patient’s arrival at her destination.
NCDC Continues Ebola Contact Tracing
The evacuation comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) continues surveillance and contact-tracing activities following the confirmed infection.
In its October 25 update, the agency said 53 primary contacts linked to the patient had been identified and were being monitored.
The contacts include healthcare workers, household members, domestic staff and other individuals who may have been exposed to the infection.
Health authorities have directed identified contacts to cooperate with monitoring teams and report any symptoms promptly.
The NCDC has also urged hospitals to isolate suspected Ebola cases without waiting for laboratory confirmation, while implementing appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
The agency is coordinating its response with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FCT authorities and technical partners.
Investigation Into Source Of Infection Continues
The patient tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola after developing symptoms following her return to Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3.
She developed symptoms on October 7 and received medical attention at private healthcare facilities in Abuja before laboratory testing confirmed the infection on October 20.
Health authorities are continuing investigations to establish how she contracted the virus.
The case has prompted heightened surveillance and renewed attention to cross-border disease monitoring, particularly amid reports of Bundibugyo Ebola infections elsewhere in the region.
The evacuation to Switzerland marks a new development in Nigeria’s response to the confirmed case. However, public health authorities continue to emphasise that contact tracing, monitoring and infection prevention measures remain essential to preventing further transmission.
