A 42-year-old Swiss woman, the only confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria, was evacuated to Switzerland on Monday. The patient, who is the wife of an embassy worker in Abuja, is believed to have contracted the virus in Uganda before returning to Nigeria, according to Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Uganda, which was declared Ebola-free in August, responded by tightening its border controls on Sunday. The country’s Ministry of Health stated the woman showed no symptoms when she left Uganda. Investigations are ongoing to determine when her symptoms began and how she became infected. Uganda recorded 20 cases, including two deaths, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda on 27 August after 42 consecutive days without new cases.
Patient’s Condition and Contact Tracing
The patient’s condition has improved. Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, described her as stable, conscious, and communicating, with lab test results improving. He noted, “This does not mean she is not still infectious.”
Nigerian authorities have identified 53 contacts, including health workers and family members. The search for potential cases has since been widened to include nine additional contacts. The patient’s husband, who has not shown symptoms, remains in isolation.
Regional Response and Travel Restrictions
Pate suggested a possible link between the Nigerian case and Kenya’s first Ebola case, though he did not confirm a transmission route. The Africa CDC had previously noted that both patients passed through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on 3 October.
Ongoing Outbreak in the DRC
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history. As of October 21, it has infected nearly 10,000 people and killed more than 4,700. The epicentre is Ituri province, which accounts for over 3,200 deaths. The virus has spread to seven other provinces.
Kenya reported its first-ever Ebola case at the end of the month, leading to two deaths. Seven other patients are being treated in isolation. This outbreak marks the fifth time an Ebola case has been evacuated to Europe for treatment since May 2026. Uganda recorded 20 cases, including two deaths. The most recent was confirmed on 21 June.
