The Ministry of Health confirmed on Monday that the man believed to be from the West Rand who was tested for the Ebola virus tested negative.
According to Joe Maila, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health “The Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) would like to update the public about the condition of the patient admitted yesterday at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital as follows.
“The condition of the patient is stable and the results of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are negative. We have also conducted the tests for Malaria and the results are also negative.
“We are busy conducting further tests for other infections and continue with our appropriate management of the patient.
“There are a number of measures put in place to maintain our vigilance and South Africans should rest assured that our surveillance is strengthened.
“We would further like to announce that NICD team has arrived in Sierra Leone to assist in containing the Ebola Virus Disease in that region. The team has all the necessary equipment.”
First possible case of Ebola reported in SA
The first possible case of Ebola has been reported in South Africa according to the minister Dr.Aaron Motsoaledi.
Motsoaledi promised to keep the public informed on the developments regarding the Ebola Virus Disease in the country issued the following statement:
“A 37-year-old South African man working as Health and Safety Officer in a mining operation in Liberia arrived in the country on 6 August 2014 on Home Leave.
“He was scanned as 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 problem nor raised temperature. He had no contact with any patients while in Liberia for over a period of a year and he is not involved in patient care at all.
“On the 16th of August 2014, the patient consulted his General Practitioner due to fever. Following on the protocols issued to all private and public practitioners and health facilities, the doctor contacted the 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 (17th August). His temperature increased and it was decided that he be admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further assessment and investigations.
“The NICD regards the patient as low risk for Ebola Virus Disease. However, as a precautionary measure, given his history of working in Liberia the protocol developed for Haemorrhagic fevers needed to be followed.
“We will inform the public of the results as they become available. The results are likely to be available soon.”
The country continues to be on high alert.
