Nigeria Not Officially Declared Ebola Free – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) clarified on Monday that Nigeria has not been officially declared Ebola-free, correcting media reports that suggested otherwise, even as its regional director confirmed the country “currently has no active cases” following the evacuation of the infected patient to Switzerland.

WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, in a post on X, announced that the patient and her husband, who is also a contact, were medically evacuated to Switzerland earlier in the day.

“The reasons for the evacuation are: Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens. The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition,” Janabi said.

He commended the Nigerian response, stating, “On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together.”

“With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” Janabi stated, while noting that vigilance remains critical.

“Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband.”

However, following news reports that interpreted his statement as an official declaration, WHO Nigeria issued a correction.

“The headline of this news story is inaccurate and misleading. WHO has not declared Nigeria Ebola-free,” the agency said in a post on X.

“Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland. Health officials are closely monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed.”

The organisation explained the specific criteria required for such a declaration.

“Under the International Health Regulations, a country can only be declared Ebola-free after a 42-day countdown following the last confirmed case testing negative twice for the virus or, in this situation, after the evacuation of the confirmed case. This period is then followed by heightened surveillance.”

WHO requested that the misleading headline be retracted, noting it stemmed from an inaccurate interpretation of Janabi’s post.

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