Nigeria may be Ebola-free in December – Minister

Health Minister Muhammad Pate has announced that Nigeria could be declared Ebola-free by December 7, 2026, provided no new cases are detected, in accordance with the 42-day countdown mandated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This follows the medical evacuation of an infected Swiss patient and her husband via air ambulance to Switzerland, who are both clinically stable.

Pate emphasized that if no further confirmed or probable cases emerge, Nigeria could progress towards declaring the outbreak over under WHO criteria, potentially as early as the aforementioned date. However, any subsequent case would necessitate a new countdown, as per WHO guidelines. The minister reiterated that ongoing monitoring, alert investigation, and strengthening health facility readiness are the immediate priorities.