The Nsawam Government Hospital has dismissed reports claiming that the hospital has recorded suspected cases of the Ebola disease.
Media reports over the weekend indicated that, three individuals who reported at the Nsawam Governement Hospital on Saturday with symptons of the disease had tested positive with the Ebola virus.
However the Medical Superintendent of the Nsawam Governement Hospital, Dr Kofi Ablor in an interview with Citi News dismissed those reports describing them as false.
He however admitted that, three patients were brought to the hospital on Saturday and were placed in a separate ward due to the intensity of their ailment.
Dr Ablor told Citi News that, all three persons were suffering from cholera and only two were bleeding heavily from their nose.
According to him, blood samples from the two patients bleeding from the nose have been sent to the Nogouchi Memorial centre for further tests and they are yet to be presented with the outcome of their test results.
He concluded by advising residents of the Nsawam-Adogyire municipality and the Eastern Region to stay calm and not panic as no case of Ebola has been recorded.
Four countries in the West African sub region – Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria have all been hit by disease.
A total of 1711 suspected cases with 932 deaths have since been recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ghana has not recorded any case yet.
About the Ebola Virus
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest diseases known to humans, with a fatality rate of between 55% and 90%. It is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of Ebola patients showing symptoms.
Syptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Fatality rate can reach 90% – but the current outbreak is about 55%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats are considered to be the virus’ natural host
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana