Federal Government has evacuated Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease patient to Switzerland for continued medical care.
The patient, who is the country’s index Ebola case, departed Abuja on Tuesday under strict public health protocols.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, confirmed the development in a statement.
He said the patient had shown significant clinical improvement before leaving Nigeria.
According to him, she was stable, conscious, communicating, and her laboratory test results were gradually returning to normal.
However, the minister stressed that the patient was still infectious despite her improved condition.
He explained that this was why strict safety measures were followed throughout the evacuation process.
Pate also disclosed that the patient’s spouse travelled with her after remaining symptom-free throughout the monitoring period.
He commended the clinical team for providing quality medical care and praised public health officials for ensuring the evacuation complied with international public health standards.
The minister assured Nigerians that all Ebola surveillance, contact tracing, and other containment measures remain in place to stop the spread of the imported virus.
He added that the government would provide another update after the patient and her spouse safely arrive in Switzerland.
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm, stay vigilant, and rely only on information from credible sources as efforts to contain the disease continue.
