Ebola
By Our Reporter
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has said that the index case of Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease has been evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland
He disclosed this in a post on Monday, responding to an earlier report by ARISE News.
Pate said the evacuation was carried out with his approval earlier in the morning.
He said, “I confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland.”
The minister said the patient was clinically much improved at the time of departure.
“The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline,” he said.
Pate, however, stressed that the patient could still transmit the virus.
He said, “This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place.”
According to him, the patient was evacuated along with her spouse, who “has remained asymptomatic.”
The minister thanked the clinical staff who cared for the patient and the public health personnel who handled the evacuation.
“I thank all the various clinical staff for the high quality care they provided the patient as well as the public health personnel who ensured the evacuation was carried out in line with best public health measures for such evacuations,” he said.
Pate promised further updates after the patient and her spouse land at their destination.
He said, “We will provide further updates later this afternoon after the patient and her spouse lands successfully in their destination.”
The minister added that containment measures were continuing and urged Nigerians to be vigilant.
“All public health measures are continuing to ensure successful containment of the imported virus. I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on information from credible sources,” he said.
The confirmation followed a report by ARISE News on its X handle, which said an air ambulance had flown the patient out of the private jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, early in the morning.
The station had said its crew obtained pictures of a three-vehicle convoy of ambulances and diplomatic vehicles entering the airport’s private jet section, and videos of a medical evacuation plane.
ARISE News had also quoted a source as saying that “the Federal Government will make the announcement of the medical evacuation only after the plane has taken off and exited the Nigerian airspace.”
