Two Hospitals in Geneva have started treating their first Ebola Cases referred there from Africa
A woman infected with Ebola is currently being treated at the University of Geneva Hospital (HUG).
Switzerland officials have admitted that they do have the female patient flown in from Abuja, Nigeria.
Her husband, identified as a close contact, is in isolation at another medical facility, the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ), known as Universitätsspital Zürich.
Both individuals arrived in Switzerland on Monday, the 26th of on a medical evacuation flight from Nigeria.
Both the University of Geneva Hospital and the University Hospital of Zurich are said to be equipped to deal with such cases and can manage the individuals concerned while at the same time ensuring the safety both of staff and of all other patients.
Geneva somehow assures that this situation does not pose any risk to the population in Switzerland.
“The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is aware that a person infected with the Bundibugyo ebolavirus is currently undergoing treatment at Geneva University Hospital (HUG).”
Her husband, on the other hand, has been placed in isolation at Zurich University Hospital (USZ).
The couple, both Swiss citizens, were repatriated from Nigeria on a medical evacuation flight.
The HUG and the USZ are prepared for such cases and can manage the two individuals concerned while at the same time ensuring the safety both of staff and of all other patients.
“This situation does not pose any risk to public health in Switzerland,” they said.
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) in Switzerland is liaising closely both with the University Hospitals in Geneva and Zurich, and with the cantonal authorities responsible.
Since 2019, two reference hospitals in Switzerland, that is the University Hospitals of Geneva and Zurich, have both been equipped to treat patients with diseases such as Ebola.
Both hospitals have the necessary infrastructure (isolation wards) and trained medical staff to care for patients with such infections.
Ebola virus disease is a serious illness that can be transmitted through close contact with a symptomatic person or with an infected animal.
In a telephone conversation, the Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider personally expressed her appreciation to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate.
Baume-Schneider expressed her gratitude to the doctors and other healthcare professionals for the excellent care provided to the two Swiss nationals in Nigeria.
The Swiss Federal Councilor also praised the Nigerian authorities and the World Health Organization for their close cooperation which helped make the patients’ repatriation possible.
