RS investigates suspected case of Ebola in Greater Porto Alegre

The State Health Department of Rio Grande do Sul reported, on Thursday night (11), that it is investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease in Nova Hamburgo, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre.

According to the folder, the patient is a 64-year-old man who spent some time in Uganda, an African country that is experiencing an outbreak of the disease, according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

The individual has already tested positive for the Malaria virus and continues to undergo specific treatment. However, authorities are investigating whether there is a new diagnosis for Ebola, in accordance with protocols determined by the Ministry of Health.

Discarding the infection must be confirmed by Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), which acts as a national reference laboratory for health-related conclusions.

Also, in a note, the Secretariat stated that the patient will be transferred to a state reference unit, Grupo Hospitalar Conceição, in the capital, where he will receive specialized care and samples will be taken for laboratory analysis.

If Ebola disease is confirmed, the man will be referred to a national reference health unit.

"The State Department of Health immediately communicated the case to the Ministry of Health and reinforces that all actions are being carried out in conjunction with municipal authorities and the Ministry of Health, strictly following surveillance, assistance and biosafety protocols", stated the ministry.

In addition, people who have had contact with the infected patient are under medical supervision and will have their health status monitored for 30 days for early identification of possible symptoms.

Suspected Ebola in SP
In São Paulo, the state Health Department is investigating a second suspected case of the disease in the state.

The patient, aged 31, is a Brazilian who was working in the province of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She returned to Brazil on June 6 and began to present symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. The signs intensified and she was admitted to a private hospital in the capital on Tuesday (9).

After notification of the case, received by the Department of Health in the early hours of this Wednesday (10), the woman was transferred to the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases (IIER) in São Paulo, a reference unit for the care of patients suspected of having Ebola.

At the beginning of the month, a 37-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of Congo presented symptoms similar to those commonly presented by Ebola. However, after laboratory tests, virus infection was ruled out. Until the latest updates, the patient remains hospitalized at the Emílio Ribas Institute.

Symptoms of Ebola
According to the United States CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Ebola virus is a deadly and rare disease, with incidence mainly in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

The infection is contracted through bodily fluids such as: blood, feces, vomit, urine, saliva, tears and sweat.

Ebola patients may experience symptoms, such as fever, body aches and fatigue, between 2 and 21 days after infection.

Over time, symptoms can become more serious, such as diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding.

Treatment involves controlling patients' pain, fluids and nutrition.

*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo

Source: CNN