A Swiss woman being treated for Ebola in Nigeria has been flown home to Switzerland alongside her husband, as health authorities continue to track 52 people who were in contact with her.

Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate said the patient, who was the country’s first case in the present outbreak, departed the capital, Abuja, early on Monday with his authorisation. Her health had improved significantly, leaving her stable, conscious and capable of communicating, he said.

"This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place," Pate wrote on X. Her spouse, a Swiss diplomat stationed in Nigeria, has displayed no symptoms.

Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, explained that the evacuation occurred because the pair are Swiss citizens, adding that local medical teams had stabilised her after managing the acute phase of the disease.

The woman tested positive after returning to Abuja from Uganda.…