Health authorities in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State are calling on residents not to panic after a resident died after presenting with Ebola symptoms.
Gonda George, Kajo-Keji county health director said health officials are still investigating the case although the victim also suffered from severe pelvic ulcers and alcoholism.
He noted that although the victim vomited blood, that is not the only symptom of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“The person who died is the one we are currently investigating and he presented signs and symptoms of Ebola developed within 12 hours and died after 24 hours without reaching the hospital. He died at home,” the health official said. “The dead victim had pelvic ulcers and he was involved in excessive drinking in the community without proper eating and he vomited yellowish and blood and that was what the investigation team found out.”
The medical director of Kajo-Keji County Dr. Sekowat Seviya said it is unlikely that the man died of Ebola
“Someone who has a history of too much alcohol consumption and having ulcers can sometimes vomit blood. When we follow the incubation period of EVD, it takes 2-21 days but he died within 24 hours and for now, I cannot say he died of EVD unless it is confirmed from the laboratory,” he added.
Dr. Seviya calls on the residents to observe Ebola preventive measures by avoiding the consumption of bush meat, shaking hands, and sharing sharp objects.
Meanwhile, Moses Duku a resident in Kajo-keji calls on the health officials and health partners in the county to awareness campaigns on the deadly virus.
South Sudan has been on high alert since an Ebola outbreak was declared in neighboring Uganda late last month. Kajo-Keji is one of the high-risk areas as it shares a border with Uganda.
The national health ministry says it has recorded four Ebola suspected cases in Nimule, Yei, Yambio and Kajo-Keji last week, saying blood samples of three suspected cases of Ebola have already been sent to South Africa for screening.