According to Swiss authorities, the woman and her husband had recently travelled to Uganda, where she is believed to have contracted the virus. Neither of them had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of the current outbreak.
Nigeria announced its first Ebola case on Tuesday after the woman arrived in Abuja on a flight from Uganda. Authorities have identified 44 contacts as part of efforts to contain the spread of the infection.
On Wednesday, Nigerian officials confirmed that the patient had contracted the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the ongoing outbreak in the DRC. There are currently no specific vaccines or approved treatments available for this strain.
Switzerland’s foreign ministry said the woman had been receiving treatment at a private clinic in Abuja for approximately a week after developing symptoms. Officials believe the infection may have occurred during a trip to Uganda around two weeks earlier.
Her husband, who accompanied her during the journey, has been placed in isolation but has not developed any symptoms, according to the statement. The ministry added that the other 25 employees at the Swiss embassy, including eight Swiss nationals and 17 local staff members, were doing well.
Following consultations with Nigeria’s health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO), the remaining embassy employees were not required to enter isolation.
Swiss authorities are also considering the possibility of repatriating the patient to Switzerland for further treatment.
The WHO said the woman developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving in Nigeria. She sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain on October 20.
The UN health agency said Nigerian authorities, with support from the WHO and other partners, had intensified contact tracing, investigations and infection prevention measures. Essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment are also being provided to healthcare workers.
Investigations are continuing to determine the likely source of infection and establish the patient’s travel and exposure history.
The WHO has advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries, stressing the importance of coordinated public health measures to contain the outbreak.
Following the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Kenya, Nigeria has become the fourth African country affected by the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which began in northeastern DRC in May.
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