- Despite evacuation of index case to Switzerland
The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that Nigeria has not been declared Ebola-free. The clarification follows confusion arising from the evacuation of the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola.
“Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland,” Prof. Mohamed Janabi, Director of WHO Regional Office for Africa, disclosed on Monday.
According to the WHO Director, the reasons for the evacuation are: both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens, and that the patient is clinically stable.
“The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition.
“On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response.
“This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together. With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” Janabi stated.
Clarifying, the WHO, in a statement made available to TheNewsGuru (TNG), stressed that, that “Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases” does not mean the country has been declared Ebola-free.
“WHO has not declared Nigeria Ebola‑free. Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland. Health officials are closely monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed,” it stated.
The agency further clarified that under the International Health Regulations, a country can only be declared Ebola‑free after a 42‑day countdown following the last confirmed case testing negative twice for the virus or, in this situation, after the evacuation of the confirmed case.
“This period is then followed by heightened surveillance,” WHO added in the statement.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, had earlier disclosed that further updates would be provided after the patient and her spouse lands successfully in their destination.