The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria is now free of the virulent Ebola disease that has been ravaging some African countries for some time now.
The declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free came after the evacuation of the nation’s index patient to Switzerland on Monday morning.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, announced the development in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday.
According to Janabi, Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts while Switzerland would manage the patient and follow up with her husband.
He disclosed that the Nigerian medical team was able to stabilise the patient after managing her through the acute phase of the illness.
“Nigeria is now Ebola-free following the evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland.
“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,” Janabi said.
Within Nigeria had earlier reported that the patient, wife of a Swiss diplomat, was flown out of the country through a medivac from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Recall that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC) had earlier confirmed one imported case from Uganda and placed 53 contacts under monitoring in Abuja
