Nigeria’s response to the reported Ebola outbreak has taken a new turn following reports that the country’s index patient has been evacuated abroad for medical treatment.

According to ARISE News, the woman was flown out of Nigeria aboard a medical air ambulance early Monday through the private jet section of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The news outlet reported that a convoy of three vehicles, including ambulances and diplomatic vehicles, arrived at the airport’s private wing ahead of the evacuation. The area was subsequently cordoned off by airport officials, while footage obtained by the outlet reportedly showed a medical aircraft preparing to transport the patient.

The woman was identified in the report as the wife of a Swiss diplomat serving in Nigeria. However, the Federal Government had yet to officially confirm the reported evacuation at the time of publication.

The development comes amid heightened concern over Nigeria’s reported Ebola outbreak, particularly following health authorities’ earlier warnings about the absence of an approved, strain-specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain associated with the outbreak.

The Federal Government and relevant health agencies have been coordinating efforts to contain the disease, including contact tracing, surveillance and the provision of supportive care for affected patients.

The reported evacuation has drawn attention to the management of the outbreak and the treatment options available to patients. However, further official clarification is needed on the patient’s condition, the destination of the medical flight and the circumstances surrounding the evacuation.