Suspected Ebola patient hospitalised

Chennai: A 21-year-old youth, who arrived in Chennai from Nigeria and reported high fever, was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital (RGGGH), in the early hours of Tuesday for Ebola virus screening. Balamurugan (21) of Senthurai taluk, in Ariyalur district, who works as a lab technician at a hospital in Nigeria, was returning home on leave when he reported high fever. He was immediately sent to the RGGGH by the medical team deputed at Chennai airport.

Officials at RGGGH said, “Since he has travelled from an Ebola virus-affected country, tests for Ebola were conducted. He did not report signs and symptoms for the disease. Tests for malaria, dengue, typhoid and chikungunya were also conducted.” They said Balamurugan’s blood sample has been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the results were expected in a couple of days. Dr S. Raghunandan, deputy medical superintendent of the hospital, said Balamurugan is kept in isolation and would be observed for two days. However, local health officers will monitor him for 20 days, throughout the incubation period, he said.

Director of public health and preventive medicine, Dr K. Kolandaisamy, said Balamurugan’s statement revealed that he did not handle Ebola affected patients or come in contact with blood samples of virus affected patients and so there was no way for him to contract the disease. He said medical teams have been deputed in all four airports in the state, in Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Madurai, to check passengers from Ebola affected countries.

People can call 104 helpline for clarification. The Union health ministry has opened a 24-hour emergency operation centre from August 9, 2014. The helpline numbers are: 011-23061469, 23063205, 23061302. The virus spreads through blood, sweat, semen, vomit, urine and saliva. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea, stomachache, joint pain and bleeding.