Kottayam: A woman from Pala has been admitted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital (MCH) as a suspected case of Ebola virus infection. The patient, who was working in South Sudan, developed fever and vomiting after returning home and initially sought treatment at a local hospital in Pala before being transferred to Kottayam MCH.
Patient Under Observation
Ebola has not been confirmed in the patient; however, she has been admitted to an isolation ward set up at the MCH, health officials said. She is currently under observation as a precautionary measure, given her recent travel from South Sudan to Uganda before flying to Kochi. Health authorities have directed all travellers arriving from affected African nations to notify the health department if they develop fever or related symptoms.
Health minister K Muraleedharan told reporters in Thrissur that the patient was shifted to the isolation ward due to her symptoms. He said the superintendent of Kottayam MCH had informed him that based on preliminary examination, there was nothing alarming at this stage.
“We are preparing the contact list of the patient. There is nothing concerning at this stage. The test results are expected soon,” he said.
“After reaching Kerala, she fell ill. As she had travelled from Uganda and was showing symptoms, we decided not to take any risk,” he added.
Preparedness and Testing
Muraleedharan said all necessary arrangements had been made at the medical college. “We had issued an alert to all medical colleges in the state following reports of Ebola cases abroad. We have also procured PPE kits for healthcare workers handling suspected Ebola cases,” he said.
Since Kerala lacks facilities for Ebola diagnosis, her samples may have to be sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Pune. According to MCH authorities, the samples have been sent to Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, and officials did not rule out the possibility of sending the samples to Pune if diagnosis is not possible in Thiruvananthapuram. Confirmation of the disease will depend on these test results. Until then, she will remain under observation, and a medical board will be constituted to oversee her treatment.
A high-level expert team at the MCH has urged the public not to panic, stressing there is no cause for concern at this stage.
About Ebola
Ebola is a rare but potentially fatal viral disease that spreads mainly through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood, vomit and faeces. Early symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, fatigue and body pain.
