Nigeria’s Ebola response remains active after the country’s first imported case arrived in Switzerland for treatment, Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has confirmed.
Pate said Swiss authorities confirmed the safe arrival of the patient and her husband on Monday. The patient is receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals, while her spouse is in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
The minister shared the update on his X account, adding that Nigerian health authorities continued contact monitoring, alert investigations and other measures to prevent further transmission.
Ebola Patient Receives Treatment in Switzerland
Pate said Switzerland appreciated the medical care Nigerian health professionals provided before the evacuation. He also acknowledged the cooperation between Nigerian and Swiss authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to the minister, Swiss Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed the country’s appreciation during a telephone conversation.
Pate thanked the medical teams in both countries, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Switzerland’s public health authorities and the WHO for their support.
He also wished the patient continued recovery and assured Nigerians that the response to the infection remained ongoing.
Patient Was Stable Before Evacuation
Earlier on Monday, Pate disclosed that he had approved the patient’s evacuation from Abuja to Switzerland.
He said her condition had improved considerably before departure. She was stable, conscious and able to communicate, while her laboratory results were moving towards baseline levels.
However, the minister warned that clinical improvement did not necessarily mean the patient was no longer infectious. Authorities therefore maintained strict public health protocols throughout the evacuation.
Read Also:ebola-patient-overseas-treatment-nigeria
Nigeria Continues Ebola Contact Tracing
The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20, 2026. The patient had recently travelled from Uganda and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain.
Following the confirmation, health authorities activated surveillance, contact tracing and monitoring measures to identify people who might have been exposed.
Initial reports identified 44 contacts. A subsequent WHO update put the number of people under monitoring in Nigeria at 52, in addition to the patient’s husband.
The government said contact monitoring and investigations would continue with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Pate added that the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would provide regular updates.
Health Authorities Urge Nigerians to Remain Vigilant
Ebola is a serious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials.
Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases may involve internal or external bleeding.
The incubation period can last up to 21 days. This makes continued monitoring important, even after an infected patient leaves the country for treatment.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on credible information as health authorities continue efforts to prevent further transmission.