SA's Ebola fears but no confirmed cases

The Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg where a man from Liberia was isolated and tested for Ebola. All tests were negative. Image: Praag

Over the weekend a 37-year-old man, who arrived in South Africa from Liberia was admitted for tests related to Ebola. The male Health and Safety Officer, who visited South Africa while on leave, worked at a mining operation in Liberia.

The Department of Health said at the weekend that he had been scanned as part of the normal routine in accordance with screening protocols for incoming travellers at the O.R Tambo International Airport. He was healthy on arrival and the scanner revealed no raised temperature.

However, he consulted his general practitioner (GP) because he had a fever and his GP contacted the NICD to discuss his condition as a form of protocol issued to all private and public practitioners and health facilities.

Based on the results of the initial blood tests, the decision was made to continue to monitor the patient at home and to repeat the blood tests on Sunday(17 August).

All tests negative for Ebola

However, the patient's temperature was still high and he had to be admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further assessment and investigations.

On Monday (18 August), the Health Ministry and NICD said the condition of the patient was stable and the results of the EVD tests were negative.

"We also conducted tests for malaria and those results are also negative. We are busy conducting further tests for other infections and continue with the appropriate management of the patient," said a joint statement.

The statement added that there were a number of measures in place to monitor people for the EVD. "South Africans should rest assured that our surveillance is rigorous," the statement said.

According to figures from the World Health Organisation, 1,145 deaths have been recorded in West Africa since March.

Meanwhile a team from the NICD has arrived in Sierra Leone to assist that country in containing spread EVD .

EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.