The World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified that Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the country’s index patient to Switzerland, warning that the development does not mean the country has officially been declared Ebola-free.
The clarification came on Monday, October 26, 2026, following reports suggesting that Nigeria had been declared free of the deadly disease after the infected patient and her husband were evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland for further medical care.
In a statement, WHO Nigeria stressed that although the country currently has no confirmed Ebola case, health authorities must continue monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The organisation disclosed that 52 contacts linked to the confirmed case were still being monitored in Nigeria, while Swiss authorities would assume responsibility for the continued medical management of the patient and the monitoring of her husband.
The development follows Nigeria’s confirmation of its first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease on October 20, 2026, involving a woman who had recently travelled from Uganda.
The patient developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria and subsequently sought medical attention at a private health facility in Abuja, where laboratory tests confirmed the infection.
Following the confirmation, the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other health authorities activated emergency response measures, including isolation, contact tracing and enhanced disease surveillance, to prevent further transmission.
The WHO commended Nigerian health workers for managing the patient through the acute phase of the illness and stabilising her condition before the medical evacuation.
However, the global health agency emphasised that the absence of confirmed cases does not automatically signify the end of an outbreak.
According to WHO, Nigeria must observe the required 42-day countdown under the applicable public health guidelines before the outbreak can officially be declared over. The period is followed by heightened surveillance to detect any possible resurgence.
The organisation urged Nigerians to remain calm while encouraging health authorities to sustain surveillance and contact-tracing efforts.
The clarification serves as a reminder that although the evacuation of the infected patient marks a significant development in Nigeria’s response, continued vigilance remains essential to prevent further infections.
For now, Nigeria has no confirmed Ebola cases, but the country must complete the necessary monitoring period before it can officially celebrate being Ebola-free.
