Suspected case of Ebola in Chiniot, Faisalabad

Islamabad, November 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): An alert for a suspected case of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (suspected for Ebola) from District Chiniot, in Punjab has been reported. The person had been working in Togo (West Africa) for the last 3 years. He came to home town, Chiniot, around 10 days back. At the time of admittance in the hospital in Faisalabad, the patient had a history of high grade fever and yellowish discoloration of eyes, vomiting and loose stools for the last five days and loss of consciousness for one day. The patient also had a history of vomiting blood 3 months back, for which he received treatment in Togo.

Although suspected at start, the diagnostic of Ebola fever was ruled out on the verified absence of concurrent travel history – Togo is NOT an Ebola infected country and on the clinical picture and the patient did not travel anywhere near the epidemic areas. Further investigations concluded that the patient was in terminal stage of Hepatitis C, with an episode of Hemorrhagic dengue fever, confirmed by laboratory exams. The patient, unfortunately, passed away last night.

As an initial measure of precaution, the Health Department Punjab had sent one field investigation team to the patient’s home town in Chiniot and another investigation team to Faisalabad where the patient was admitted for investigation and treatment, in order to track travel history and all potential contacts, a routine practice in epidemic investigation.

Ministry of NHSR and C remained in contact with the Punjab Health Department and WHO and provided technical guidance. The National Institute of Health scientists remained stand by and in contact with provincial authorities throughout the episode on the directions of Minister for NHSR and C and Secretary NHSR and C.

WHO team provided technical support to the Government of Punjab to investigate the case and definitely rule out any suspicion of Ebola. On a more general tone, WHO is working closely with the Government of Pakistan to help strengthening epidemic preparedness measures including Ebola?

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323 and +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325 and +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com