A patient from Nimule who presented with Ebola virus disease (EVD) symptoms but later tested negative for the disease has been referred to Juba for further management, according to health authorities in Eastern Equatoria State.
According to Dr. David Sylvester Nyuma, the medical director at Nimule Hospital, although the patient tested negative for Ebola, he still had a dry cough, chest pain, and vomited blood among others. He said they do not have an X-ray machine or other requisite medical equipment to examine the patient.
“This person’s (Ebola) result was negative and thereafter we made an investigation for Tuberculosis (TB) the test results also indicated negative so it needs an X-ray to check on the cough and blood vomit so as to find the exact problem in his chest but we do not have an X-ray here,” Dr. Nyuma explained. “We referred got an ambulance to take him to Juba Teaching Hospital last Friday. His hemoglobin was low and because we do not have a blood bank here, we also referred him to get blood and other medical tests there in Juba.”
The medical director urged the public to be cautious, guard against and report suspected Ebola cases to the authorities.
“We must always protect ourselves and should wash our hands constantly and we should not be near anybody with signs and symptoms of high cough, bleeding from the nose or ears, and other open body parts,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Etin Concord, the Eastern Equatoria State director general of health confirmed that the suspected Ebola patient had indeed been moved to Juba due to complications.
“For sure this person was vomiting blood and at the end, they suspected Tuberculosis (TB) and they were to make investigations in line of TB, but for Ebola it was negative. TB needs a lot of investigation and an X-ray among other medical equipment that is why he was referred,” he said. “Although this case is (Ebola) negative, we know cases are going up in Uganda so we are telling our citizens to be alert. If there is any suspected case of Ebola, they should isolate and not touch the person and call 6666.”
The official says there are no additional suspected cases registered even though the suspect had untraced contacts
Last Month South Sudan recorded four suspected Ebola cases in Nimule, Yei, Yambio, and Kajo-Keji.
Uganda’s health ministry declared the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on September 20 and since then, a total of 44 have contracted the infection, which has so far killed 10. Since October 2, the country has only reported one new case of infection and one new death. At least seven people have recovered from the virus.