Ebola suspicion cleared up in Berlin

Patient in Berlin suffers from malaria - not Ebola

08/20/2014

All clear in Berlin: The suspicion of Ebola the 30-year-old job center visitor, who was admitted on Tuesday morning with a high fever in the Charité, confirmed not. Instead, the doctors diagnosed a malaria infection. The woman was doing well, said the clinic.

Fever after stay in Nigeria sparked suspicion of Ebola in Berlin job center
On Tuesday morning, a woman was admitted to the Charité University Hospital after a high-fever collapse at a job center. Since the 30-year-old had previously been in Nigeria, there was an urgent suspicion of Ebola.

In West Africa, the dangerous virus has been rampant since April and has claimed more than 1,200 lives. One of the major symptoms of the infectious disease is high fever. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with the patient or the dead. In addition, infection can occur through consumption of bushmeat and contact with live or dead monkeys, forest antelopes and fruit bats. The World Health Organization (WHO) therefore strongly recommends against eating the meat of these animals.

Because of Ebola suspicion driveways were sealed off to the clinic
In 50 to 90 percent of cases, Ebola virus infection is fatal. The therapy can only alleviate the symptoms. Accordingly, the excitement in the Berlin job center was correspondingly high after the 30-year-old complained of a high fever and reported on her stay in Nigeria. The woman was first isolated in an ambulance and then taken to the Infectious Department of Virchow Hospital. All access roads to the clinic were then closed by the police. In addition, a security service was deployed on the premises.

In addition, as a precaution, six persons in contact with the 30-year-old were taken to hospital to prevent possible infection and spread of the virus. The remaining job center visitors were allowed to leave the building after about two hours, a spokesman for the fire department told the news agency „dpa“ With.

No Ebola case in Germany
The Charité was able to give the all-clear on Tuesday evening. The tests on Ebola were negative. Instead, one has detected a malaria infection in the 30-year-olds and initiated appropriate treatment. „The patient is doing well in the circumstances, "says Norbert Suttorp, Director of the Charité's Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology.

So far, no Ebola suspicion has been confirmed in Germany. According to the authorities, emergency contingency plans are well prepared for emergencies. For example, there is an isolation ward at the Charité where patients can be treated in protective suits. The Berlin fire department had also practiced the use of suspected cases on Ebola since the outbreak of the virus in West Africa, reported a senior emergency physician to the news agency. The combination of fever and a stay in Africa was already sufficient for a mission. „But that is only the suspicion of a suspected case“, so the ambulance. (Ag)