As the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi promised to keep the public informed on the developments regarding the Ebola Virus Disease in the country and the region, we hereby wish to issue the following statement:
A 37 year old South African man working as Health and Safety Officer in a mining operation in Liberia arrived in the country on the 6th of August 2014 on a home leave.
He was scanned as normal routine in accordance with screening protocols for incoming travellers at the O.R Tambo International Airport. He was healthy on arrival and the scanner revealed no problem nor raised temperature. He had no contact with any patients while in Liberia for over a period of a year and he is not involved in patient care at all.
On the 16th of August 2014, the patient consulted his General Practitioner due to fever. Following on the protocols issued to all private and public practitioners and health facilities, the doctor contacted the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to discuss the patient. Based on results of the initial blood tests the decision was made to continue to monitor the patient at home and to repeat the blood tests today (17 August). His temperature increased and it was decided that he be admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further assessment and investigations.
The NICD regards the patient as low risk for Ebola Virus Disease. However, as a precautionary measure, given his history of working in Liberia the protocol developed for Haemorrhagic fevers needed to be followed.
We will inform the public of the results as they become available. The results are likely to be available tomorrow.
The country continues to be on high alert.
Enquiries:
Joe Maila: Ministry of Health Spokesperson
Cell: 082 887 3581
E-mail: mailaj@health.gov.za
Twitter: @mjmaila @HealthZA
