Photo: Shutterstock A woman infected with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus has been evacuated from Nigeria to Switzerland by medical aircraft and is receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospital, Swiss authorities confirmed on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The patient's husband, who has remained asymptomatic, traveled with her and is being kept in isolation at University Hospital Zurich as a close contact. Both are Swiss citizens and arrived safely in Switzerland following the medical evacuation.
Nigeria's Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed the evacuation in a statement posted on social media. He said the patient had shown significant clinical improvement before departure and was stable, conscious and able to communicate. Her laboratory results were also approaching baseline levels.
However, Pate stressed that the improvement did not mean the patient was no longer infectious. Strict medical and public health protocols remained in place throughout the evacuation.
He thanked the Nigerian clinical teams and public health personnel involved in the operation, as well as international partners who helped coordinate the transfer.
The Swiss Federal Council confirmed that the woman was receiving care at Geneva University Hospital, while her husband was placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
Both hospitals have been equipped to manage serious infectious diseases such as Ebola since 2019. Their isolation facilities and specialist medical teams are designed to provide treatment while protecting healthcare workers and other patients.
Swiss authorities said the situation posed no risk to the wider population. The Federal Office of Public Health is coordinating with both hospitals and the relevant cantonal authorities.
Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider also expressed Switzerland's appreciation to Nigeria's health minister for the care provided to the two citizens before their repatriation. The countries worked with the World Health Organization to facilitate the evacuation.
Despite the patient's departure, Nigerian health authorities said containment efforts would continue. Priorities include monitoring identified contacts, investigating suspected cases and strengthening preparedness at healthcare facilities.
Pate urged the public to remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and follow updates from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to the minister, Nigeria could potentially declare the outbreak over as early as December 7, provided no additional confirmed or probable cases are detected and the World Health Organization's criteria are met. The date remains provisional, as authorities must validate the required 42-day countdown. Any additional case would restart that period.
Ebola virus disease is a serious illness that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is symptomatic, or through contact with contaminated materials. The Bundibugyo virus is one of the species responsible for Ebola disease.