The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Nigeria cannot yet be declared Ebola-free, despite having no confirmed active cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s first patient in the current outbreak to Switzerland.
The clarification comes as health authorities continue monitoring 52 people who may have been exposed to the infected patient, a Swiss woman who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola after returning to Nigeria from Uganda.
According to the WHO, the evacuation of the patient does not automatically mean the outbreak has ended. The remaining contacts must be monitored in line with established public health protocols to detect any possible secondary infections.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, explained that Nigeria must complete the required monitoring period before it can be declared Ebola-free.
Speaking to ARISE News on Wednesday, October 28, Ihekweazu said the 53 identified contacts, including the patient’s husband, must be monitored for 21 days, followed by an additional 21-day period before Nigeria can be declared free of the outbreak.
He stressed that contact tracing and daily monitoring remained essential to identifying any new infections early and preventing further transmission.
The infected woman was treated by Nigerian medical teams before being evacuated to Switzerland on Monday. Health officials said her condition had improved and she was stable at the time of her transfer.
The WHO has commended Nigeria’s response, including the laboratory confirmation of the infection and the medical care provided to the patient.
However, authorities have urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and cooperate with public health officials as surveillance continues.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola. Health officials say continued monitoring and prompt detection of any potential new cases are critical to ensuring the outbreak does not spread further in Nigeria.