The World Health Organisation has dismissed reports claiming Nigeria has been declared free of Ebola. The global health agency clarified that while there are currently no active confirmed cases in the country, strict health criteria must still be met before any official declaration can be made.
According to a report by Tribune Online, WHO Nigeria addressed the issue on Monday after misleading headlines suggested the country was already certified Ebola-free following the medical evacuation of an index patient to Switzerland. The organisation noted that having zero confirmed cases at the moment does not automatically grant the country a clean bill of health under international standards.
Health officials are currently keeping a close watch on 52 individuals who may have had contact with the patient. Under the International Health Regulations, health authorities must observe a mandatory 42-day countdown before declaring an outbreak over. This window begins after a confirmed patient tests negative twice or, as in this case, after the confirmed patient is evacuated, followed by heightened surveillance.
The clarification was prompted by earlier comments from Dr Mohamed Janabi, the WHO Regional Director for Africa. He announced that the index patient and her husband, both Swiss nationals, were evacuated to Switzerland to continue treatment and medical follow-up.
Dr Janabi explained that the patient was in stable condition after Nigerian medical personnel successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness. He also commended the Federal Government, medical staff, emergency workers, and technical partners for their prompt response and care.
Following the timeline required for the countdown and surveillance protocols, Nigerian authorities are now targeting 7 December to officially achieve Ebola-free status, provided no secondary infections emerge among the contacts under observation.
