Patient Showing Ebola Symptoms Causes Confusion In Ebonyi

There was pandemonium at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital on Thursday, over the admission of a suspected Ebola virus disease (EVD) patient.

Daily Independent reports that workers, and patients at the hospital scampered for safety after a doctor raised a false alarm that a patient who arrived from Port Harcourt, was an EVD patient.

It was gathered that patients, nurses and some doctors in the hospital ran out of the premises with the false information the newly arrived patient was suffering from Ebola. The rumour which reportedly spread like wild fire got residents panicking.
A nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a doctor raised the false alarm while diagnosing a patient who was manifesting some symptoms suspected to be Ebola disease.
“I left the hospital and there is serious tension and panic there. Though we are yet to confirm but I believe it is not Ebola,” she said.
Reacting to the incident, Sunday Nwangele, the state Commissioner for health, disclosed that the state government has raised the Rapid Respond Team and Treatment Committee saddled with the responsibility of handling issues of EVD in the state.
He urged residents not to be scared, and confirmed that the hospital incident was a false alarm. The commissioner further revealed that the patient was suffering from peptic ulcer and insisted that there was no Ebola in the state.