The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that Nigeria at the moment has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the nation’s index patient and her husband to Switzerland.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a press release revealed on his official X account on Monday, October 26, 2026, whereas commending Nigerian well being authorities for his or her response to the an infection.
The announcement comes hours after the girl, who was identified with the Bundibugyo pressure of Ebola, was flown out of Abuja alongside her husband aboard a medical evacuation plane earlier on Monday.
WHO confirms Nigeria has zero cases
Janabi defined that the medical evacuation was authorised as a result of each the patient and her husband maintain Swiss citizenship, whereas the girl’s situation had improved sufficiently to allow her switch beneath strict medical supervision.
He famous that Nigerian healthcare professionals had efficiently managed the patient by essentially the most extreme stage of the sickness, stabilising her situation earlier than preparations have been accomplished for her continued remedy in Switzerland.
- “With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” Janabi acknowledged.
However, the WHO official emphasised that the event didn’t mark the top of Nigeria’s public well being response, as authorities should proceed monitoring people who might have been uncovered to the virus.
Nigeria will preserve surveillance of 52 recognized contacts, whereas Swiss well being authorities will assume accountability for the patient’s ongoing medical care and monitor her husband, who was listed because the 53rd contact.
Janabi additionally acknowledged the contributions of medical professionals and emergency response groups concerned in managing the an infection.
- “On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response.”
He described the event as proof of the capability of African healthcare methods to handle complicated public well being emergencies by coordinated medical intervention.
Nigeria’s Ebola patient evacuated to Switzerland
Nigeria confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on October 20, 2026, after laboratory investigations established {that a} 42-year-old lady who not too long ago returned from Uganda had contracted the an infection.
- According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the girl arrived in Abuja on October 3 after travelling by Addis Ababa and started experiencing signs 4 days later.
- Her situation subsequently worsened, resulting in hospitalisation at a personal medical facility in Abuja earlier than laboratory checks confirmed the an infection.
- The supply of the an infection stays unsure, though genomic sequencing outcomes launched on October 23 confirmed intently associated viral strains within the Nigerian patient and Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient.
Nairametrics reported earlier on Monday that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed the patient’s evacuation to Switzerland.
Nigeria maintains surveillance of 52 contacts
Although Nigeria at the moment has no confirmed Ebola sufferers inside its borders, well being authorities are sustaining surveillance because the Bundibugyo outbreak continues to pose a risk throughout elements of Africa.
The outbreak, which originated within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been related to infections in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, elevating issues about cross-border transmission and potential undetected infections.
- Uganda, which recorded infections earlier within the outbreak, was declared Ebola-free in August 2026 after finishing the required remark interval with out extra confirmed cases.
- Kenya has reported nine confirmed infections and two deaths, prompting elevated contact tracing and surveillance to forestall additional transmission.
- Before the patient’s evacuation, the NCDC recognized 53 main contacts, together with healthcare personnel, family members and people concerned in accumulating medical samples.
The continued monitoring stays essential as a result of the patient’s evacuation doesn’t set up that each one potential transmission dangers have been eradicated.
