The Federal Government has announced that the first confirmed Ebola patient in the Federal Capital Territory is currently showing positive signs of recovery. Health authorities also confirmed that there is currently no evidence of community spread of the viral disease within the country.
This development comes days after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed that the Ugandan-born patient had suffered multi-organ failure due to the virus.
The patient, identified as a Ugandan-born woman, has been receiving treatment at a private clinic in Abuja for approximately one week. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, a total of 44 primary contacts have been identified, while contact tracing, mandatory quarantine, and daily medical monitoring remain ongoing across the nation’s capital.
“The Federal Government has provided an update on the confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria, reporting that the patient is showing signs of recovery. There is currently no evidence of community spread,” the ministry stated via its official X handle.
The government urged residents to remain calm, follow established public health directives, and avoid spreading unverified rumours that could trigger unnecessary fear.
“Contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring continue, alongside strengthened national coordination, health facility preparedness and public health measures. Follow recommended precautions, rely on information from recognised health authorities and avoid sharing unverified reports”.
According to the ministry, the patient contracted the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. This species is driving the severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and currently lacks any specific vaccines or approved treatments.
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s foreign ministry disclosed on Friday that the symptomatic patient is the wife of a Swiss diplomat stationed at the Bern embassy in Abuja. The Swiss authorities suspect the infection occurred during a recent trip to Uganda approximately two weeks ago, stating that neither the patient nor her husband travelled to the DRC.
“Her husband is in isolation; he has shown no symptoms. He accompanied his wife on the trip, during which she is believed to have contracted the Ebola virus,” the Swiss foreign ministry explained.
The ministry added that 25 other embassy staff members, comprising eight Swiss nationals and 17 local employees, are in good health. Following consultations with the Nigerian health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO), these staff members were cleared from entering isolation.
Meanwhile, the Swiss government in Bern is actively considering the potential medical repatriation of the recovering patient back to Switzerland for further specialised care.
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