The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Nigeria must complete a 42-day monitoring period before it can officially be declared free of Ebola, following confirmation of a case in the country.
WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said health authorities must monitor 53 identified contacts of the infected patient for 21 days. This will be followed by another 21-day period, in line with established protocols.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said Nigeria currently had no active Ebola cases after the infected patient and her husband were medically evacuated to Switzerland.
“The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition,” Janabi said.
He added, “With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases.”
However, Ihekweazu stressed that the country must complete the required monitoring period before it can be officially declared Ebola-free.
“What it means still is that we have about 53 people, contacts, individuals with whom that individual had contact over the days that she was ill. And now we have to continue to follow each of them for 21 days and then require another 21 days, coming up to 42, in order to declare Nigeria Ebola-free,” he said.
Ihekweazu explained that the patient’s country of origin requested the medical evacuation. He stressed that the decision was not due to a lack of treatment facilities or capacity in Nigeria.
He also praised Nigeria’s response to the outbreak, highlighting the speed of laboratory confirmation, genetic sequencing and treatment provided to the patient.
“Nigeria’s going to be proud of the response so far,” he said.
On public gatherings, Ihekweazu said the WHO had not recommended restrictions on political rallies or other gatherings. He stressed that the organisation’s advice was based on public health evidence rather than political considerations.
“Our advice is never political. It’s always technical,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to trust the government and health authorities as health workers continue to monitor the 53 contacts daily. The monitoring is intended to identify any possible transmission early and prevent further spread of the virus.
