No Ebola case in Nigeria WHO declares, hails management of index patient

Nigeria has no active case of Ebola, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared.

Its Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said following the medical evacuation of the patient and her husband to Switzerland, Nigeria has no active Ebola case.

There was a scare when the 42-year-old index case, the wife of a Swiss diplomat, tested positive for Ebola virus on October 20, 2026 after seeking medical help in a private facility on October 11.

She arrived Abuja on October 3, via an international flight from Uganda (routed through Addis Ababa) and developed symptoms on October 7.

But WHO said with her successful medical evacuation on October 26, Nigeria has no case of Ebola.  

Janabi, in a statement on his official X handle on Monday, hailed Nigerian medical personnel for successful managing the index case.  

Janabi congratulated the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in the Ebola response, describing the development as a remarkable achievement.

He said the successful management of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries worked together to respond to health emergencies.

He said Nigeria would maintain close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland would assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and monitoring of contact number 53, her husband.