ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola virus disease case in more than a decade — a 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja — was medically evacuated from the country early Monday morning for further treatment in Switzerland.
The patient, Nigeria’s index case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, departed Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 6 a.m. aboard a specialised medical evacuation aircraft from the private jet wing. She was accompanied by her spouse, who has remained asymptomatic. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed the evacuation, stating it was carried out with his approval under strict public health protocols.
“The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline. This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” Pate said in a statement. He thanked clinical and public health staff involved in her care and the safe evacuation, adding that further updates would follow after the couple’s arrival in Switzerland. All containment measures in Nigeria remain in force.
The woman arrived in Abuja from Uganda via Addis Ababa on or around October 3–5, 2026. She developed symptoms including fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat on October 7. She sought treatment at private health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory beginning around October 10–11. Laboratory tests confirmed Ebola infection on October 20 after samples were collected following notification to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
This is Nigeria’s first Ebola case since the 2014 West Africa outbreak. Authorities have identified and are monitoring 53 primary contacts, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and others. Two suspected cases in the FCT and Rivers State have tested negative. Samples from the patient’s husband also returned negative.
The evacuation follows intensified contact tracing, enhanced surveillance at points of entry, and public health measures aimed at preventing secondary transmission. Nigerian health authorities and the Swiss foreign ministry had not issued additional immediate comments beyond the minister’s confirmation at the time of reporting.
Officials continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, report symptoms promptly, and rely on verified information from the NCDC and Ministry of Health while response efforts proceed.
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