Nigeria has evacuated its only confirmed Ebola patient to Switzerland for further medical care as health authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak. The 42-year-old Swiss woman was airlifted from Abuja on Monday. She is married to a Swiss embassy staff member based in the Nigerian capital and had travelled to Uganda with her husband before returning to Nigeria. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said the patient’s condition had improved significantly, noting that she was stable, conscious and communicating, with laboratory results approaching normal levels. However, the minister cautioned that the improvement did not mean she was no longer infectious.
Nigerian health authorities have identified 53 people who had contact with the patient as they intensify efforts to monitor possible infections and prevent further transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Africa is facing a complex Ebola outbreak, with the virus affecting western, eastern and central parts of the continent.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been severely affected, recording more than 4,600 deaths since May, according to the original report. Nigeria previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014. However, health experts have expressed concern about possible transmission during the period between the woman’s arrival on October 3 and the announcement of her diagnosis on October 20. Health authorities continue to trace and monitor contacts as they work to prevent further spread of the virus.
