A 42‑year‑old Ugandan‑born woman, married to a Swiss diplomat, tested positive for Ebola on 20 October in Abuja, marking Nigeria’s first confirmed case in more than ten years. She is being treated in isolation and is reported to be improving, while health authorities work to identify the source of her infection.
Key facts:
- The patient tested positive on 20 October after a week of symptoms at a private clinic in Abuja.
- She returned to Nigeria on 3 October following a 2½‑week stay in Uganda.
- The Swiss diplomatic mission confirmed that all 25 embassy staff are healthy and do not require isolation.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that the patient carries the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, the same strain seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak.
- A spokesperson for the Swiss foreign ministry said, "The patient’s husband is in isolation but remains asymptomatic."
What is known about the patient’s travel?
According to the [Swiss foreign ministry](https://www.eda.admin.ch/), the woman and her husband travelled to Uganda earlier in October. She spent roughly a week at a private Abuja clinic before her diagnosis and was admitted to an isolation facility where she is now showing signs of recovery. The ministry added that the diplomat’s spouse did not visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, contradicting earlier statements from Ugandan officials.
How are authorities responding?
Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, in coordination with the [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/), has begun extensive contact tracing. Initially 44 contacts were identified, but tracing efforts have been expanded to include additional individuals who may have been exposed. The [Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)](https://ncdc.gov.ng/) is conducting genomic sequencing to determine whether the infection links to other regional cases. Meanwhile, the [Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)](https://africacdc.org/) is investigating a possible connection between the patient and a Kenyan man who died of Ebola after transiting Uganda’s main airport on the same day.
What is the broader regional context?
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing its deadliest Ebola outbreak, with thousands of deaths recorded. Kenya has confirmed nine cases, including the first patient who died after traveling from the DRC through Uganda. Kenya’s Health Director‑General, Patrick Amoth, stated that all nine infections are linked to the initial patient and that there is no evidence of wider community transmission.
Health officials emphasize that Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects. Rapid contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases, and early treatment remain essential to curb further spread. The WHO’s regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, has urged countries to heighten surveillance, investigate infections promptly, and protect frontline health workers.
The Swiss embassy in Nigeria remains open, operating with enhanced health and safety protocols while monitoring staff wellbeing.