Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, says the Ebola patient evacuated from Nigeria and her spouse have arrived safely in Switzerland, where they are receiving medical care and isolation, respectively. Pate disclosed this in a statement via his X handle on Monday, October 26, following…...
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, says the Ebola patient evacuated from Nigeria and her spouse have arrived safely in Switzerland, where they are receiving medical care and isolation, respectively.
Pate disclosed this in a statement via his X handle on Monday, October 26, following confirmation from Swiss authorities.
He said the patient was receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals, while her spouse had been placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
“The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today. She is receiving care at Geneva University Hospitals, while her spouse is in isolation at University Hospital Zurich,” Pate said.
The minister also said Switzerland had expressed appreciation for the medical care provided by Nigerian health workers and the cooperation between both countries that facilitated the evacuation.
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According to Pate, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation during a telephone conversation with him.
“In our telephone conversation, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the close cooperation between our authorities and WHO that made the evacuation possible,” he said.
Pate commended the clinical and public-health teams in Nigeria and Switzerland, as well as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Swiss health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their roles in the evacuation.
He also wished the patient a continued recovery.
Meanwhile, the minister said public-health surveillance and containment efforts were ongoing in Nigeria despite the evacuation.
“Here in Nigeria, contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures continue, with support from Africa CDC and WHOAFRO,” he said.
Pate added that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC would continue to provide updates on the situation.
“We will provide regular updates through NCDC and Fmohnigeria,” he said.
TVC News had reported that Pate, earlier confirmed that the first imported Ebola virus disease case in the country has been flown out of the country to Switzerland.
Pate earlier wrote on X: “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 index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline.
“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place. The patient was evacuated along with her spouse who has remained asymptomatic.
“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.
“We will provide further updates later this afternoon after the patient and her spouse lands successfully in their destination.
“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”, Pate said.