Ebola In SA? Panic As 37-Year-Old Man Is Admitted In Johannesburg Hospital For Test

The department of health reveals that a 37-year-old man who works as a health and safety officer in a mining company in Liberia has been suspected of having the deadly Ebola virus.

Spokesperson Joe Maila

According to reports, Joe Maila, who is a spokesperson for the health department said:

"He was scanned as normal routine in accordance with screening protocols for incoming travellers at the OR Tambo International Airport."

"He was healthy on arrival and the scanner revealed no problem nor raised temperature."

He further added that the suspected victim had no contact with any Ebola patients in Liberia but suddenly fell ill with suspicious symptoms of Ebola and consulted his health practitioner due to fever on the 16th of August.

"Following protocols issued to all private and public practitioners and health facilities, the doctor contacted the National Institute for Communicable Diseases [NICD] to discuss the patient.

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

"His temperature increased and it was decided that he be admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further assessment and investigations."

He however said it wasn't a high-risk situation of Ebola but the NCID needed to take precautions.

"However, as a precautionary measure, given his history of working in Liberia the protocol developed for haemorrhagic fevers needed to be followed."

Meanwhile, he assured the public that they would be informed of the result as soon as it became available, most likely to be on Monday.

"The country continues to be on high alert," he said.

Flashback to August 14, the Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi said there were no cases of Ebola in South Africa and the government were at alert to make sure it doesn't sneak into the country.

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