By More Matshediso
Pretoria – A 37-year-old man, who arrived in the country from Liberia over a week ago, has been admitted to the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for further tests related to the Ebola Virus Disease.
Last week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi promised to keep the public informed on the developments regarding the Ebola Virus Disease in the country and the region.
On Sunday, the department issued a statement on the male Health and Safety Officer, who visited South Africa while on leave. He worked in a mining operation in Liberia.
The department said he had no contact with patients while in Liberia for over a year, and he was not involved in patient care.
“He was scanned as normal routine in accordance with screening protocols for incoming travellers at the O.R Tambo International Airport. He was healthy on arrival and the scanner revealed no problem nor raised temperature,” the Department of Health said on Sunday.
The department said the man consulted his General Practitioner (GP) due to fever on Saturday, and his GP contacted the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to discuss his condition as a form of protocol issued to all private and public practitioners and health facilities.
“Based on results of the initial blood tests, the decision was made to continue to monitor the patient at home and to repeat the blood tests today [on Sunday],” the department said.
It is said that the patient’s temperature increased, and he had to be admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further assessment and investigations.
“The NICD regards the patient as low risk for Ebola Virus Disease,” said the department.
However, as a precautionary measure, given his history of working in Liberia, the department said the protocol developed for Haemorrhagic fevers needed to be followed.
“We will inform the public of the results as they become available. The results are likely to be available today [Monday],” said the department. - SAnews.gov.za
