Nigeria’s Ebola index case has been flown to Switzerland for further treatment. Health minister Ali Pate announced this on Monday.

The patient and her Swiss diplomat husband travelled out of Abuja on Monday despite a no-fly ban restricting her husband from travelling by air until the end of his three-week isolation.

The index case, diagnosed on October 20, departed via air ambulance Rega, a Swiss emergency flight, from the private jet wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday morning.

“I confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland,” Mr Pate said in a statement.

He said the patient had significantly improved as she was already communicating before her departure.

“The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline,” Mr Pate said.

But the health minister noted that “this does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place”.

He added, “The patient was evacuated along with her spouse who has remained asymptomatic.”

The minister thanked all healthcare workers who tended to the female patient and were involved in her evacuation.

“I thank all the various clinical staff for the high-quality care they provided the patient as well as the public health personnel who ensured the evacuation was carried out in line with best public health measures for such evacuations,” the minister said.

He added, “We will provide further updates later this afternoon after the patient and her spouse land successfully at their destination. All public health measures are continuing to ensure successful containment of the imported virus. I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on information from credible sources.”