Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola patient in more than a decade has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland aboard a medical air ambulance for further treatment.
The 42-year-old woman, who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja, was flown out of the country at about 6 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, through the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
According to reports, the medical evacuation involved a specialised aircraft and a convoy of ambulances and diplomatic vehicles that transported the patient to the airport. Her husband also accompanied her on the evacuation flight.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that the patient’s condition had improved significantly. He described her as stable, conscious and able to communicate, adding that her laboratory results were approaching normal levels.
The patient tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease on October 20, after developing symptoms earlier in the month and receiving treatment at a private hospital in Abuja.
Following the confirmation, health authorities began contact tracing and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had reported that 53 contacts had been identified in connection with the case, with investigations and surveillance ongoing.
Health officials are also investigating how the woman contracted the virus, including her recent travels through Uganda. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm, cooperate with health officials and avoid spreading unverified information.
The NCDC has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing further transmission through contact tracing, early detection, isolation and strengthened infection prevention measures.
