Nigeria may declare the Ebola outbreak over as early as 7 December if no additional confirmed or possible instances are detected, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has mentioned.
Mr Pate made this identified in an announcement shared on his official X deal with on Monday, following the medical evacuation of Nigeria’s imported Ebola index affected person to Switzerland earlier in the day.
He mentioned the date stays provisional and would rely upon the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) validating the required 42-day countdown.
“Any further case would require a fresh countdown in accordance with those criteria,” Mr Pate mentioned.
The minister mentioned Nigeria’s instant priorities are to proceed monitoring all recognized contacts, promptly examine alerts, and strengthen preparedness throughout well being services.
He mentioned the response groups, working with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), state well being authorities and companions, stay centered on containing the illness and stopping neighborhood transmission.
Mr Pate urged Nigerians to “remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and follow updates” from the NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
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Patient evacuated
Earlier on Monday, Mr Pate confirmed the medical evacuation of the imported Ebola affected person and her husband to Switzerland.
The affected person, who’s Nigeria’s solely confirmed Ebola case, had been receiving therapy in isolation in Abuja after testing constructive for Bundibugyo virus illness, a type of Ebola.
WHO subsequently said Nigeria has no energetic Ebola instances following the evacuation.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, mentioned the affected person was clinically steady and that Switzerland would assume accountability for her continued medical administration and follow-up for her husband, a contact.
Nigeria confirmed the imported case on 20 October, after the affected person arrived in the nation following worldwide journey via Uganda.
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