Kaduna Ebola suspect diagnosed of dengue fever

HEALTH Officials in Kaduna State have declared the Ahmadu Bello University undergraduate recently feared to have contracted the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) has tested negative and only has dengue fever.

Last week, the 19-year old was suspected to have EVD and was placed in an isolation ward at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. Extensive tests have been conducted on the law student and yesterday, the Kaduna State deputy governor Nuhu Bajoga, gave the undergraduate the all clear.

Deputy Governor Bajoga, who is the chairman of the Kaduna State Ebola Prevention and Control Committee said: "I am happy to inform you that the result of the sample of the patient’s blood taken to a Lagos laboratory, came back this morning and the young man was negative of the Ebola virus. However, the patient was tested positive for dengue fever and I am told it is a very bad type of fever but it is nowhere close to the ebola virus.

 May I reassure our people that we are ready to contain any outbreak of Ebola but for now and I pray forever, there is no single case of Ebola in Kaduna State. We are waiting for a further brief on the dangue fever and we shall act in the best interest of the public."

Dengue fever also known as break-bone fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Its symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.

Since July 14 when EVD came to Nigeria after Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer brought it into the country, seven people have died. A total 70 people have now been quarantined over EVD, most of them in Lagos, where a special isolation centre has been set up.

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