Swiss Diplomat’s Wife Suspected To Be First Ebola Case Set For Medical Evacuation From Nigeria

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

A woman, identified as the wife of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria, was scheduled to be evacuated from the country aboard a medical evacuation aircraft early Monday morning.

According to reports, an Arise News crew stationed at the General Aviation Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, observed a convoy of three vehicles, including diplomatic vehicles and an international agency vehicle, arriving at the airport’s private jet section.

Airport officials reportedly cordoned off the private wing as the medical evacuation preparations continued.

Arise News said it obtained videos showing a medevac aircraft and its crew preparing to evacuate the ailing woman, whose case was suspected to be linked to a possible Ebola index case.

A source reportedly told the news organisation that the Federal Government intended to announce the medical evacuation after the aircraft had taken off and left Nigerian airspace.

As of the time of the report, the aircraft was said to be awaiting clearance from airport authorities.

However, the woman’s identity, the nature of her illness and any suspected link to Ebola had not been independently confirmed in the information provided.