Nigeria’s Health Minister, Muhammed Ali Pate, has confirmed the evacuation of the country’s index case of imported Ebola virus disease to Switzerland following an improvement in the patient’s clinical condition.
In a social media statement, Pate said the patient departed Abuja earlier Monday with approval from the health authorities, accompanied by her spouse, who has remained asymptomatic.
The minister reported that the patient was clinically stable, conscious and able to communicate, with laboratory test results showing signs of returning towards baseline levels.
However, Pate cautioned that the improvement did not necessarily mean the patient was no longer infectious, emphasizing that strict public health protocols remained in place during the evacuation.
“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” the minister stated.
Pate commended the clinical teams for providing what he described as high-quality care, while also acknowledging public health personnel who ensured the evacuation complied with the required safety measures.
He said the government would issue further updates later in the afternoon after confirmation that the patient and her spouse had arrived safely at their destination.
Meanwhile, the minister assured the public that measures to contain the imported virus were continuing, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and obtain information from credible sources.
“All public health measures are continuing to ensure successful containment of the imported virus,” Pate said.
The evacuation comes as Nigerian health authorities continue efforts to manage the imported case and prevent further transmission, with strict infection prevention and control measures remaining central to the response.
