A Swiss woman evacuated from Nigeria after testing positive for Ebola has recovered and been discharged from hospital in Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva University Hospitals confirmed her discharge on Wednesday, November 11, following medical assessments that established her recovery.
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The cantonal physician subsequently authorised her release, according to a statement sent to Reuters on Thursday.
The woman, who was born in Uganda, was flown to Switzerland alongside her husband, a Swiss diplomat, in late October after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
She had reportedly spent two weeks on holiday in Uganda before returning to Abuja, where she developed symptoms and tested positive on October 20.
Her diagnosis prompted concerns over possible local transmission in Nigeria, leading health authorities to identify and monitor people who had contact with her.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said 62 contacts had been identified following the case.
As of November 11, only 10 remained under monitoring, while 52 had completed the required surveillance period.
The agency also reported that Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case, while seven suspected cases tested negative.
No deaths had been reported.
Meanwhile, experts are investigating how the woman contracted the virus.
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, had earlier told Reuters that investigations were expected to establish the source of the infection.
The Bundibugyo strain is a rare form of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.
The outbreak, first identified in May, has affected parts of Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo recording more than 11,000 confirmed cases.
Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed that the DRC had recorded 11,042 confirmed cases and 5,387 deaths as of November 10, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
In Nigeria, the Federal Government had earlier indicated that the country could be declared free of the outbreak by December 7, provided no further confirmed or probable cases were detected and the World Health Organisation’s 42-day countdown was validated.
A Swiss woman evacuated from Nigeria after testing positive for Ebola has recovered and been discharged from hospital in Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva University Hospitals confirmed her discharge on Wednesday, November 11, following medical assessments that established her recovery. The cantonal physician subsequently authorised her release, according to a statement sent to Reuters on Thursday.
The woman, who was born in Uganda, was flown to Switzerland alongside her husband, a Swiss diplomat, in late October after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
She had reportedly spent two weeks on holiday in Uganda before returning to Abuja, where she developed symptoms and tested positive on October 20.
Her diagnosis prompted concerns over possible local transmission in Nigeria, leading health authorities to identify and monitor people who had contact with her.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said 62 contacts had been identified following the case. As of November 11, only 10 remained under monitoring, while 52 had completed the required surveillance period.
The agency also reported that Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case, while seven suspected cases tested negative. No deaths had been reported.
Meanwhile, experts are investigating how the woman contracted the virus.
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, had earlier told Reuters that investigations were expected to establish the source of the infection.
The Bundibugyo strain is a rare form of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.
The outbreak, first identified in May, has affected parts of Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo recording more than 11,000 confirmed cases.
Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed that the DRC had recorded 11,042 confirmed cases and 5,387 deaths as of November 10, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
In Nigeria, the Federal Government had earlier indicated that the country could be declared free of the outbreak by December 7, provided no further confirmed or probable cases were detected and the World Health Organisation’s 42-day countdown was validated.
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The discharge of the Swiss patient marks a positive development in her treatment, while Nigerian health authorities continue surveillance to prevent further transmission.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
