A woman reportedly suspected to be Nigeria’s Ebola index patient has been evacuated from the country aboard a medical evacuation aircraft, according to ARISE News, although the Federal Government has yet to officially confirm the development.
The reported evacuation took place early Monday morning at the private jet terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
ARISE News reported that the woman, described as the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Nigeria, was scheduled to leave the country at about 6 a.m. aboard a medical evacuation aircraft already stationed at the airport.
The outlet said its crew, deployed to the airport’s General Aviation Terminal, obtained photographs showing a convoy of ambulances arriving from central Abuja, accompanied by diplomatic vehicles, before proceeding to the airport’s private aviation section.
The convoy reportedly comprised three vehicles, including one belonging to an international agency.
According to ARISE News, airport officials cordoned off the private section of the facility during the operation, restricting access while preparations for the evacuation were underway.
The report also said video footage showed a medical evacuation aircraft and its crew preparing for the passenger’s departure. The woman was suspected to be the Ebola index patient because of the nature of the operation, although her identity and medical status have not been independently confirmed.
A source cited by ARISE News said the Federal Government intended to announce the evacuation only after the aircraft had taken off and left Nigerian airspace.
However, several details surrounding the reported operation remain unclear, including the woman’s confirmed identity, her destination and her current medical condition.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement confirming the evacuation had been provided by the Federal Government or the relevant health authorities.
The reported development comes amid concerns over Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case and ongoing efforts by health authorities to monitor potential contacts and prevent further transmission. However, the evacuation report alone does not establish the woman’s identity or confirm her condition.
