Ebola suspicion in Canada not confirmed

Ebola not confirmed in man in Canada

03/25/2014

There are all-clear at the alleged Ebola case in Canada. The man who was diagnosed with Ebola disease showed a blood test that he was not infected. Other dangerous infectious diseases could be excluded.

Results of the blood samples were negative
After a few days ago it became known that an Ebola outbreak occurred in Guinea, West Africa, a suspected case of Ebola caused a stir in Canada. A man who has been in Liberia professionally, according to Denise Werker, deputy head of Saskatchewan's health department, is in a hospital in the city of Saskatoon. He has high fever and other symptoms similar to those of Ebola. But the test results of the blood samples sent to a specialized laboratory in Winnipeg were negative. This tweeted now the press secretary of the World Health Organization (WHO) Gregory Härtl. In addition, similar viruses such as Marburg or Lassa could be excluded.

Symptoms only after returning from Africa
According to Werker, the patient had been isolated and his relatives were also quarantined for the time being. Clinicians who come into contact with the man wear respiratory masks and special safety clothing. The deputy chief of administration added that the patient's symptoms had not occurred until after his return to Canada. So far, the Ebola virus has been found only in Africa, with many cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was discovered in 1976. In recent weeks, at least 59 people have died in Guinea, West Africa, and there have been 87 suspected cases in the country. In addition, six suspected cases were reported from neighboring Liberia, five of which were fatal.

Ebola has not spread to capital of Guinea
According to the Liberian Ministry of Health, the victims, whose nationality was not stated, had come from southern Guinea to seek treatment in hospitals in northern Liberia. According to a representative of the organization MSF (Médecins sans Frontières, MSF), the victims had taken part in funerals in Guinea and then returned to Liberia. In this border area there are numerous family connections. Even the assumption that the Ebola epidemic has spread to the capital of Guinea, has not been confirmed by the government. The first cases were already known at the end of January in the southern forests of the country.

Illness is often deadly
The Ebola virus is transmitted by smear infections via body fluids, such as blood on people. After an incubation period of a maximum of three weeks, flu-like symptoms develop. Subsequently, there is high fever, internal bleeding, impairment of liver and kidney function, bloody diarrhea, convulsions, shock and circulatory collapse. Nausea and vomiting are other typical accompanying symptoms. Affected people often bleed from all orifices. In 25 to 90 percent of cases, the disease is fatal according to the WHO, the mortality depends on the exciter strand. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the virus. (Sb)