The 19-year old law student of the Ahmadu Bello University
[ABU] suspected to manifest some symptoms of the Ebola Virus
Disease [EVD] has tested negative to the virus.
Authorities of ABU and the Kaduna State Government had sent
the patient’s blood to Lagos for testing after he reportedly
manifested some symptoms associated with Ebola while on
admission at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
The state Commissioner For Health, Thot Dogo, had told
newsmen on Tuesday night that the result of the test was being
expected on Wednesday afternoon (today).
But Ebola Alert, an authoritative evidence-driven group of
volunteer professionals working on Ebola Virus Disease
interventions in the country, told this newspaper laboratory test
has shown the student does not have the virus.
An official of the group, who simply identified himself as Ladi,
said the test, concluded earlier on Tuesday night, came out
negative.
“Yes, it is true that the result is negative,” Ladi said in response
to an enquiry by Newsnow Nigeria. “Whatever information Ebola
Alert puts out is authentic.”
“Reaching a diagnosis of #Ebola is dependent on a laboratory
test. However close it may be, it is not Ebola until it is Ebola.”
The Federal Ministry of Health and the Kaduna State Government
are expected to announce the result of the test later on Wednesday.
The Kaduna Commissioner for Health, Mr. Dogo, had told
newsmen that the student had been on admission at the hospital
for a week.
He said after he “developed rashes with redness of the eyes”,
authorities became suspicious and decided to isolate him and
test him for Ebola.
The state government also provided protective equipment to
medical officers attending to the patient, Mr. Dogo said.
But in a series of tweets Tuesday, Ebola Alert urged doctors and
hospitals to refrain from divulging patients’ information so as
not to stigmatize them while also creating panic in society.
It reminded Nigerian doctors and hospitals to note that several
other diseases share symptoms with Ebola.
The organization said, “We hope our hospitals will continue to
keep health information of their clients and care givers
confidential especially #SUSPECTED#EBOLA.
“It is equally important to stay professional by not creating panic
in the interest of your staff, patients and country at large.
#Ebola
“Several diseases share symptoms with #Ebola and there are
other viral haemorrhagic fevers.
“In an #EbolaOutbreak, it is challenging for the healthcare
workers to balance between high suspicion and misdiagnosis.
Remain professional.
“It will be hard to have public panic if patients
#health#information is kept confidential as is #ethically
required; even #Ebola patients.
“We hope our colleagues continue to remain professional as we
work on this together. #Ebola#HCW#Nigeria Do not put patients’
info out there.
“When you wrongly classify an ill person as an #Ebola patient,
we hope you will be around to clean the stigma caused.
#CAUTION
“Reaching a diagnosis of #Ebola is dependent on a laboratory
test. However close it may be, it is not Ebola until it is Ebola.
#CAUTION
“Healthcare is a very responsible and accountable sector. #Ebola
will bring out these leadership attributes out of us. Let’s lead
now.”
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