Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola case following the evacuation of the country’s only identified patient and her husband to Switzerland, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, has said.

Janabi disclosed this on Monday after the infected woman and her husband, who was being monitored as a contact, were flown to Switzerland aboard an air ambulance.

The patient, who is a Swiss citizen, was transferred after Nigerian healthcare workers treated and stabilised her condition during the acute phase of the infection. Her husband, also a Swiss national, accompanied her and will continue to be monitored by Swiss health authorities.

Janabi said the successful management of the case demonstrated the capacity of Nigeria’s health system and the value of coordinated action among African countries and international partners.

He commended the Federal Government, medical personnel, emergency responders and other organisations involved in detecting and managing the case.

The WHO official said the Nigerian medical team had successfully stabilised the patient before the evacuation, describing the outcome as an example of what could be achieved through effective collaboration in public health.

Despite the patient’s departure, Janabi stressed that Nigeria’s surveillance efforts would continue, with health authorities maintaining close monitoring of 52 identified contacts.

The patient’s husband, who is designated as contact number 53, will now be followed up by Swiss authorities alongside the continued management of the evacuated patient.

“With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” Janabi said.

He urged continued vigilance even after the evacuation, stressing that contact tracing and monitoring remained important in preventing further transmission.

The WHO Regional Director congratulated Nigeria and the various health professionals and institutions involved in the response, describing the development as a significant public-health achievement.

The evacuation follows Nigeria’s confirmation of an Ebola infection involving the Bundibugyo virus. The case had prompted contact tracing, laboratory testing and enhanced surveillance in the country.

Earlier, Nigerian health authorities had identified dozens of primary contacts linked to the patient and placed them under monitoring as part of efforts to prevent further spread.

Janabi said the latest development demonstrated Africa’s growing capacity to respond to serious infectious disease threats, describing the response as a reflection of African expertise, resilience and leadership in public health.