Swiss woman with Ebola treated in Nigeria after Uganda trip

A Swiss woman diagnosed with Ebola is being treated at a private clinic in Abuja, SRF reported, citing confirmation from Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. She was diagnosed on October 20, and is believed to have contracted the virus during a trip to Uganda about two weeks earlier.

The woman is the wife of a Swiss employee at the embassy in Abuja. Her husband, who travelled with her, is in isolation and has no symptoms, the department said. The couple did not travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The other 25 embassy employees, including eight Swiss nationals and 17 local staff, are well and do not need to isolate, following consultation with Nigeria’s health ministry and the World Health Organization’s Nigeria office.

Authorities are assessing whether the woman can be repatriated to Switzerland. The embassy remains open and has put health and safety measures in place, and is in regular contact with the health ministry and WHO Nigeria.

SRF reported that Ebola is spreading again in Africa, with the outbreak beginning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya has also reported its first cases in recent days.