No Ebola at Dusseldorf patient

After the Ebola suspicion had triggered in a patient in North Rhine-Westphalia initially comprehensive security measures and the transfer to a special ward of the University Hospital Dusseldorf, issued the authorities on Monday afternoon officially all-clear.

"The diagnosis of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine from Hamburg has shown that the patient who was brought to the University Hospital last night (Sunday, May 3) under special safety measures, did not suffer from Ebola," said the Communication from the state capital Düsseldorf. The man had exhibited alleged Ebola symptoms after a stay in Guinea and was therefore transported as a precaution to the special isolation ward of the University of Düsseldorf.

All clear at the University of Dusseldorf
Although the main criteria for the suspected Ebola disease in the patient were met (stay in a spread area, contact with sick people and fever), the ongoing investigations many clearly negative for the Ebola virus. After the all-clear, the safety precautions in the university hospital were shut down and the patient is now treated regularly, so the announcement of the state capital. "Of course we are glad that the patient did not have Ebola," emphasized clinic director Professor Dr. med. Dieter Häussinger. In addition, transport, recording, diagnostics and supply in the special insulation station would have worked smoothly, Häussinger continued. The Health Department of the City of Düsseldorf, Professor Andreas Meyer-Falcke, also used the current press release to thank everyone involved "for their well-prepared and professional work".

Special safety precautions on the special insulation station
The man with the Ebola suspicion was, according to the hospital director, the first patient who was admitted to the special isolation ward of the University of Düsseldorf. After the Ebola suspicion arose, the man was Sunday night by the fire department Dusseldorf under special security precautions and under the direction of dr. Frank Sensen transported from the Dusseldorf health department in the university hospital of the state capital. A special "intensive care ambulance" was disengaged for transport and was accompanied by six other firefighting vehicles, as well as two police cars. The patient was accommodated in the state-of-the-art special isolation ward of the University Hospital Düsseldorf, which is also part of the disease alarm plan of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. A transfer of dangerous germs into the environment should be avoided so safely. Complete protection of patients, visitors and the attending staff is guaranteed, according to the official statement.

Ebola epidemic in West Africa is not over yet
Although the current Ebola suspicion has not been confirmed, travel to the West African states of Guinea and Sierra Leone are currently still burdened with an increased risk of illness. Meanwhile, the Ebola epidemic in Liberia seems to be largely under control. However, 33 new Ebola infections were reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Guinea until 26 April. However, these were significantly less new infections than a few weeks ago. In the meantime, almost 100 new diseases were reported weekly from Guinea to the WHO in mid-March. According to the WHO, more than 26,000 people have been infected in the course of the current Ebola epidemic and around 10,900 people have died as a result of the infectious disease. Guinea has had nearly 3,600 infections and 2,377 deaths so far. (Fp)