By Duncan Mlanjira
The 37-year-old Malawian male, ho presented himself with haemorrhagic symptoms similar to Ebola at Kaporo Rural Hospital but was diagnosed that he was not suffering from the disease itself, died on Tuesday afternoon.
A statement from Ministry of Health and Population signed by its Secretary, Dr. Dan Namarika, said the patient, who was in isolation at the Karong Treatment Camp presented with fever, facial swelling and some bleeding in the eyes, nose and mouth.
“Epidemiologically, there was no risk of Ebola since there was not recent travel or risk of contact with a case of Ebola,” says the statement.
“The patient was treated as a case of generalized bacterial infection (sepsis). The preliminary lab results guided the management of the patient during therapy [and] other lab test results are pending.”
As soon as the patient arrived at Kaporo Rural Hospital and showed these signs of Ebola, the Ministry of Health swiftly sent a rapid response team to carry out investigations that came up with the negative result.
The result was that it was a case of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation secondary to Sepsis.
Patient was then transferred to Karonga District Hospital for further management.
Details of the patient are that he is a builder from Kilupula in Karonga
He reported on Sunday with symptoms of fever (37.8 degrees), haemorrhage (bleeding) from nose, mouth, eyes.
Initial treatment was IV fluids and antibiotics. He has no travel history to any area with active transmission of Ebola.
The report also says Karonga has not reported of any similar cases.
His relations and those he had contacts with have been identified and put on observation.
The report also said the areas the patient was treated has been disinfected and all precautionary protocols were adhered to.