KZN man tests negative for Ebola

A KwaZulu-Natal man, who recently returned from Sierra Leone, has tested negative for the Ebola virus, the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) said, last Friday. This comes after the NICD announced it would conduct an Ebola test on the man, who complained of mild fever symptoms on Wednesday last week.

The man who works as a fleet manager for a construction company in Sierra Leone was concerned about the risk of Ebola and wanted to be tested as a precautionary measure.

He was then referred to Addington Hospital for further assessment, but he decided not to go to the hospital.

“People working in the retail, security and mining industries and related businesses in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are not at risk for contracting Ebola. Only those (generally family members, and healthcare workers) who handle blood, faeces and vomit of infected, ill persons, without proper protection, are at risk,” said the NICD.

Travellers without symptoms, returning from the Ebola-affected countries, pose no risk of infection to others, added the NICD.

The NICD said at present, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in South Africa associated with the current outbreak in West Africa. Addington Hospital is the only hospital in the province with the essential facilities to treat positive Ebola cases.

For more information, call the National Health Operations Centre on 012 395 9636/7.

You can get Ebola:

If you touch any body fluids that come from a sick person’s body, like drops of blood, urine (pee), saliva (spit), poo, or other fluid.

If you touch sheets, blankets or other things that a sick person has used and touched.

What can I do?

Wash your hands often.

Don’t touch people who are sick.

Wash your hands before eating, after going to the toilet, before cooking, after touching anyone who is sick, and at other times too.

Make sure your family does the same.