The wife of a Swiss diplomat posted in Abuja, Nigeria, has been diagnosed with the Ebola virus, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. Authorities believe she may have contracted the infection during a recent visit to Uganda.
 

The woman, who was born in Uganda, has been receiving treatment for Ebola-related symptoms at a private clinic in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, for nearly a week. According to Swiss authorities, she may have been infected approximately two weeks ago while travelling in Uganda.
 

Her husband, a Swiss diplomat, has been placed in quarantine as a precautionary measure. Officials said he has not shown any symptoms of Ebola so far. The couple had travelled together during the trip.
 

Health authorities are still investigating the exact source of the infection. Officials are reviewing the woman's travel history and possible contacts. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa’s leading public health agency said they have not received information confirming reports that she had also travelled to Congo.
 

Ebola Outbreak Continues to Spread Across Africa
 

The Ebola outbreak in Africa has continued to expand since it began in Congo in May. According to available figures, more than 9,700 people have been infected, and nearly half of those affected have died. The outbreak is being described as the deadliest Ebola epidemic in Congo’s history.
 

This week, Nigerian authorities also confirmed an Ebola infection in a woman who had returned from Uganda. The disease is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
 

Cases linked to the outbreak have been reported in Congo, Uganda, Kenya, France and Nigeria. Active cases are currently present in three of those countries.
 

Kenya has reported nine cases connected to a traveller who arrived from Congo through Uganda. In France, a doctor returning from Congo tested positive for the virus in June. That case was the first recorded outside Africa, and the doctor later recovered following treatment.
 

Border Monitoring Remains a Major Challenge
 

Health experts say controlling the outbreak remains difficult due to ongoing violence, population movement and limited healthcare infrastructure in parts of Congo.
 

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, vomit and other bodily fluids of an infected person. The virus can also spread through contact with contaminated clothing, bedding and other materials.
 

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called a meeting of African leaders to coordinate a joint response to the outbreak. The World Health Organization has also urged countries in the region to strengthen surveillance and preparedness measures.
 

Officials have additionally raised concerns regarding the accounting and utilisation of $700 million in aid allocated to combat Ebola.
 

India Strengthens Precautionary Measures
 

Although no Ebola case has been reported in India, authorities have stepped up preparedness measures at airports and points of entry.
 

Enhanced screening and monitoring systems have been put in place to identify travellers showing suspicious symptoms. The government launched the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal on June 25, 2026, requiring international passengers to submit health declarations covering travel history, possible exposure and symptoms during the previous 21 days.
 

The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has been designated for Ebola testing, while quarantine facilities have been identified at airports and ports. The central government has also issued guidelines to states and Union Territories regarding screening, treatment protocols, infection control measures and the handling of suspected cases.
 

On May 24, 2026, the Government of India advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
 

Risk of Ebola Spread in India
 

Health experts note that Ebola is a serious disease, but it does not usually spread through the air. The primary mode of transmission is direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, making surveillance, isolation and contact tracing critical tools in preventing its spread.