Nigeria’s first recorded Ebola patient is a Swiss woman married to a staff member of Switzerland’s embassy in Abuja, the Swiss government has confirmed.
Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry disclosed this on Friday, stating that the woman had recently travelled to Uganda with her husband but that neither of them had visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the epicentre of the current outbreak.
The development follows Nigeria’s announcement on Tuesday that a woman who arrived in Abuja on a flight from Uganda had tested positive for Ebola. Nigerian health authorities subsequently confirmed on Wednesday that she was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
According to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, the woman had been symptomatic and receiving treatment at a private clinic in Abuja for approximately one week.
“The Swiss woman, who is symptomatic, has been hospitalised for about a week at a private clinic in Abuja,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the infection might have occurred during a trip to Uganda approximately two weeks earlier.
The woman’s husband, who works at the Swiss embassy in Abuja, has been placed in isolation despite showing no symptoms of the disease.
“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 statement said.
The ministry confirmed that neither the woman nor her husband had travelled to the DRC, where the current outbreak first emerged.
It also reported that the other 25 embassy staff members, comprising eight Swiss nationals and 17 local employees, were in good health.
Following consultations with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the remaining embassy personnel were advised that they did not need to enter isolation.
Switzerland is also considering the possible repatriation of the patient for further treatment in her home country.
The confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain has heightened concern over the case because there are currently no specifically approved vaccines or treatments for the strain, making early detection, supportive medical care and effective infection-control measures particularly important.
Nigeria has identified 44 contacts linked to the patient as part of efforts to monitor potential exposure and prevent further transmission.
The Bundibugyo outbreak has affected several African countries. Following the DRC, Uganda and Kenya, Nigeria has become the fourth African country reported to have been affected by the outbreak.
The virus outbreak flared up in the north-eastern DRC in May before spreading to neighbouring Uganda. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, before the outbreak was officially declared over there in August.
According to WHO figures cited as of October 20, the wider epidemic had surpassed 9,700 confirmed cases, including 4,690 deaths.
Health authorities intensify monitoring
The identification of the patient’s travel history and the isolation of her husband underscore the importance of cross-border surveillance and cooperation among health authorities in containing the virus.
The identification and monitoring of contacts are also critical to determining whether additional infections have occurred and ensuring that anyone who develops symptoms receives prompt medical attention.
While the Swiss authorities have indicated that the woman may have contracted the infection in Uganda, the precise circumstances of transmission have not been conclusively established in the information released.
Health authorities are expected to continue monitoring identified contacts and implementing appropriate public health measures to limit the risk of further spread.
The case has placed renewed focus on Nigeria’s preparedness to respond to imported infectious diseases, particularly those for which specific vaccines or treatments are not currently available.
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