Abuja:The first Ebola patient confirmed in Nigeria has been airlifted to Switzerland for treatment, Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate announced. The patient, a Swiss national, was transported on a specially equipped aircraft on Monday.
According to Ghana News Agency, the patient, described as clinically much improved and stable, was conscious and communicating, with clinical laboratory test results nearing baseline levels. However, due to the infectious nature of Ebola, strict protocols remain in place. The patient was accompanied by her spouse, a Swiss diplomat, who has shown no symptoms of the virus.
Nigeria confirmed its initial Ebola case on October 20, with the patient reportedly arriving from Uganda. Uganda, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, had previously declared its Ebola outbreak over at the end of August after 42 days without new cases. However, investigations by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are ongoing to determine where the virus was contracted.
Meanwhile, Kenya is dealing with active Ebola cases, with nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, reported in Nairobi. The first case there was traced back to a patient who traveled from Congo to Kenya via Uganda.