Nigeria Evacuates Ebola Patient Married To Swiss Diplomat
Nigeria has reportedly evacuated a woman identified as the country’s Ebola index patient by air ambulance, following her diagnosis with the virus.
ARISE News reported that the woman, said to be the wife of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria, was flown out of the country early Monday through the private jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to the news channel, a source had disclosed plans to evacuate the patient at about 6 a.m., with a medical evacuation aircraft already waiting at the airport.
Its crew later observed a convoy of three vehicles, including diplomatic vehicles and an international agency vehicle, entering the airport’s private aviation section.
Airport officials reportedly cordoned off the area, but ARISE News said it obtained video footage showing a medical evacuation aircraft and its crew preparing to transport the patient.
A source told the news channel that the Federal Government intended to announce the evacuation after the aircraft had taken off and left Nigerian airspace.
The reported evacuation raises questions about the management of the Ebola case, the patient’s destination and the measures being taken to protect people who may have been exposed to the virus.
However, details of the patient’s destination and the circumstances of her evacuation should be confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Public health officials are expected to provide further information on the patient’s condition, contact tracing and measures to prevent further transmission.
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