Suspected Ebola patient visited African outbreak zone; Test results expected today
According to Radboudumc Hospital in Nijmegen, it is expected to become clear on Saturday whether the patient admitted on Thursday on suspicion of Ebola is actually infected with the disease. The patient is currently being treated in a specially equipped isolation ward for severe infectious diseases. Tests are already being carried out at the request of the National Coordination Center for Communicable Disease Control (LCI), which is part of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
It has since emerged that the patient had traveled through regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, where a major Ebola outbreak is currently ongoing, Tjalling Leenstra, head of the National Coordination Center for Communicable Disease Control, confirmed. During the trip, the individual reportedly visited a healthcare facility in the affected region. Leenstra declined to tell NOS whether the patient had been in contact with confirmed Ebola cases. Authorities have also not disclosed whether the individual is a Dutch citizen or resides in the Netherlands.
As of Saturday morning, authorities consider the case to be low risk, and the likelihood that the patient contracted the highly contagious virus remained small.
However, “based on the patient’s account, Ebola could not be ruled out,” Leenstra told NOS. He noted that the symptoms presented were not highly specific. “At this moment, we assess the risk as low. However, as a precautionary measure, it is crucial that we investigate this thoroughly,” he added. According to Leenstra, the investigation is also necessary to protect healthcare workers.
The patient was initially transported to Isala Hospital in Zwolle on Thursday by a specialized ambulance. Following consultations with the IJsselland Public Health Service (GGD), officials decided to transfer the patient to Radboudumc because of the suspected infection.
The number of officially confirmed Ebola infections currently stands at 82 in Congo and two in Uganda. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) believes the true number of cases may be significantly higher. Congo has reported seven deaths linked to the virus, while Uganda has recorded one fatality.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the number of suspected deaths has risen to 177. In addition, approximately 750 suspected infections have been reported.
On Friday, the Red Cross opened a donation account to support efforts aimed at combating the outbreak. Last week, the WHO officially designated the situation an international public health emergency.
Ebola symptoms can appear anywhere from 48 hours to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Initial symptoms often develop suddenly and may include fever, fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, and general malaise. As the disease progresses, patients can experience vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, and impaired kidney and liver function.
Although Ebola is often associated with severe bleeding, the WHO states that hemorrhaging is less common than many believe and usually occurs during later stages of the illness. In some cases, patients may suffer both internal and external bleeding, including blood in vomit or feces, as well as bleeding from the nose, gums, or vagina. The virus can also affect the central nervous system, potentially causing confusion, irritability, and aggression.
Earlier this month, Radboudumc faced criticism over the handling of blood and urine samples connected to a patient infected with hantavirus. Twelve hospital employees were placed in precautionary quarantine after standard safety procedures were followed instead of stricter protocols required for highly contagious diseases.
