Swiss diplomat's wife tests positive for Ebola in Nigeria

Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that the woman who tested positive for Ebola in Nigeria on 20 October is the wife of a Swiss diplomat stationed in Abuja, making her the country’s first confirmed case in more than a decade. The 42‑year‑old, Ugandan‑born resident of Nigeria was diagnosed after a week of symptoms at two private clinics in the capital. She is now being treated in isolation and, according to the World Health Organization, is showing signs of improvement.

The couple had travelled to Uganda earlier in the month and returned to Nigeria on 3 October after a two‑and‑a‑half‑week stay. Ugandan health officials say the woman likely contracted the virus while in the country, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo where the deadliest Ebola outbreak in recent memory has claimed about 4,600 lives. Uganda reported two deaths after the outbreak began in May but declared itself Ebola‑free in August. The Swiss ministry said the patient did not travel to the DRC, contradicting earlier reports from Ugandan sources.

Her husband, the Swiss diplomat, is in isolation but has not developed any symptoms. All 25 staff members at the Swiss embassy – eight Swiss nationals and 17 local employees – were deemed healthy and were not required to isolate after consultation with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and the WHO. The embassy remains open with health and safety measures in place. Investigators are also looking into whether the patient may have crossed paths with a Kenyan man who died of Ebola after traveling through Uganda’s main airport on the same day she arrived in Abuja. Africa CDC officials said this is one possible scenario but no link has been confirmed.

Health authorities say the source of the woman’s infection is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing. The WHO cautioned that it is too early to pinpoint where she was exposed. Nigerian officials are monitoring contacts and have heightened surveillance at health facilities to prevent further spread. The case underscores the fragility of regional Ebola control efforts and the need for swift coordination among neighboring countries, diplomatic missions, and international health bodies.