Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed on Monday that the country’s first imported Ebola patient has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland.

In a statement posted on X, Pate said the patient was clinically improving, stable and conscious but remained potentially infectious, necessitating strict safety protocols throughout the evacuation process.

The patient travelled with her spouse, who has remained asymptomatic. The minister commended healthcare workers for their efforts in managing the case.

Pate assured Nigerians that public health measures remain in place to contain the virus and urged citizens to stay vigilant while relying only on credible information.

A Swiss woman diagnosed with Ebola virus in Nigeria is set to be evacuated from the country early this morning through an air ambulance at the private jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Ohibaba News learned the patient who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria was flown out of Nigeria this morning through a medivac plane which was already at the airport waiting to evacuate her.

Our Reporter deployed to the General Aviation Terminal later obtained pictures of the arrival of a convoy of vehicular ambulance from Abuja city centre with diplomatic vehicles in the entourage.

The three vehicle convoy had an international Agency vehicle entering the Private Jet section of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

Airport officials cordoned off the private wing of the airport but news men eventually obtained videos of a medivac plane with crews eventually evacuating the sick passenger suspected to be the Ebola index case due to the special nature of the medical evacuation.

Lagos State has strengthened disease surveillance and public health preparedness following confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday.

Residents and visitors need not panic, the ministry stressed, as the state is fully ready to prevent, detect and respond to any potential public health threat. There are currently no suspected or confirmed cases in Lagos.

The Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health is intensifying surveillance, risk communication and community engagement. Collaboration with agencies at points of entry, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), has also been stepped up to enable early detection and rapid response.

As part of these efforts, the ministry conducted a strategic engagement and assessment at MMIA with airport management, Port Health Services and other aviation and public health stakeholders. Discussions focused on passenger screening, information sharing, infection prevention and control, and emergency response coordination. Public enlightenment is also being expanded through educational materials on Ebola symptoms, transmission and prevention.

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and potentially fatal illness that spreads mainly through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person showing symptoms, contaminated materials, or the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Infection can also occur through contact with infected animals.

Symptoms typically appear between two and 21 days after exposure and may include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising can occur in some cases. Because early symptoms can resemble malaria or other common illnesses, anyone who becomes unwell—especially after possible exposure or travel from an area with active transmission—should seek prompt medical assessment.

The ministry reminded residents of Lagos State’s fever-management policy: anyone with fever should take a malaria rapid diagnostic test before using antimalarial medicines. If the test is negative, a healthcare professional should evaluate other possible causes.

Preventive measures advised include regular hand washing, avoiding contact with the body fluids of sick persons, not handling potentially contaminated materials, and staying away from sick or dead wild animals.

Travellers arriving in Nigeria, particularly from areas reporting Ebola transmission, are urged to cooperate with Port Health Services, provide accurate travel and health information, and follow official public health guidance. Anyone who develops symptoms during or after travel should notify health personnel promptly and seek advice before visiting a healthcare facility.

Suspected cases or concerns about possible exposure in Lagos can be reported via the state’s emergency lines 112 or 767, or by calling the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health on 0802 316 9485.

The Lagos State Government said it will continue to monitor the situation, strengthen surveillance and response capacity, and issue verified updates as necessary. Residents are encouraged to remain calm, practise recommended precautions and rely on official information from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other authorised agencies.