Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM
Suspected Ebola case at GPHC ruled-out
A suspected case of the Ebola virus was dispelled yesterday, after medical practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), swung into action to ascertain the root of some concerning symptoms exhibited by a woman.
The quarantine area at the GPHC.
According to reports reaching this publication, the woman who reportedly hails from the Ivory Coast, West Africa, was taken to the GPHC for medical attention after complaining of feeling unwell.
The woman has reportedly been in Guyana for some time now and only yesterday started to develop symptoms including fever. She arrived at the hospital around 13:00 hours yesterday.
On learning of the woman’s condition, health workers did not permit her access to the emergency area and immediately sought to isolate her in the new outpatient facility of the hospital which has been identified as the Ebola quarantine area.
She was escorted there by officials completely decked in protective gear which the hospital has been able to acquire, according to a source close to the operation of the hospital. This publication was further informed that the hospital has all necessary measures in place to combat any potential case of the virus.
Reports are that basic metabolism tests conducted on the woman, allowed for her to be cleared of clinical Ebola, a development that suggests that the symptoms exhibited are in fact not synonymous with the virus that has been wreaking havoc in sections of West Africa.
However, by late afternoon the woman was still in isolation although plans were reportedly being made for her to be discharged.
Based on further investigations, there have been no reports of the virus in the Ivory Coast ahead of the woman’s arrival here, and she has reportedly not been exposed to anyone or any location where it has been detected.
This publication was nevertheless informed that additional tests will have to be conducted on the woman to confirm her Ebola free status. Reports are that blood samples will have to be taken from the woman and sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad where further tests will be done.
This publication was informed too, that Guyana has in place a strict ongoing screening process at all ports of entry for persons who might have travelled in the past 21 days or been in contact with persons from sections of West Africa.
Such persons, this publication was informed will be treated as “highlight suspicious” for the Ebola virus until tests prove otherwise.
In an attempt to prevent the Ebola Virus from entering Guyana, moves have been made by Government to institute restrictions against travellers from West Africa.
In a statement posted on Facebook by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, it was noted that Government, since early September, discussed Guyana’s preparedness to deal with Ebola.
Moreover, she noted that “on September 9, 2014, all Embassies and Consulates abroad have been instructed by me not to issue visas to nationals from West African countries for the time being. The Embassies and Consulates have not issued any visas since then,” she added.
But according to Rodrigues-Birkett, while this does not constitute a travel ban for persons from African countries (Africa has 54 countries), the measure implemented, is aimed at dealing with the deadly Ebola virus which is seen as a challenge to both developed and developing countries alike.
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