Nigeria’s index Ebola patient has been medically evacuated to Switzerland for specialised clinical care, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed on Monday morning.
The patient, a 42-year-old Ugandan national married to a Swiss diplomat stationed in Abuja, was airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at approximately 6:00 AM aboard a dedicated medical air ambulance.
She was conveyed to the airport’s private jet terminal from the Abuja city centre in an ambulance convoy accompanied by diplomatic escorts, travelling alongside her husband, who health authorities confirmed remains asymptomatic.
Prof. Pate stated that the evacuation was carried out following official ministerial approval and in strict compliance with international public health protocols. According to the Health Minister, the patient’s clinical condition had shown notable improvement prior to departure, noting that she was stable, conscious, communicating, and exhibiting laboratory values closing towards baseline.
However, he cautioned that clinical stability does not indicate she is no longer infectious, reinforcing that biosecurity precautions remain in place.
