Man who returned to Hyderabad from Nigeria tests negative for Ebola

Hyderabad: A man from Hyderabad, whose samples were sent for testing as a measure of caution against Ebola after his return from Nigeria, tested negative for the disease, an official said on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old’s samples were sent to New Delhi-based National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to check for possible Ebola infection, days after his return from Nigeria last month.

The most populous country in Africa had reported several Ebola-related deaths a few months ago but is now free of the deadly virus transmission.

“This (samples) have tested negative. So, no need for concern as there is no Ebola,” Dr Subhakar, nodal officer for infectious diseases like Ebola, said here quoting an official report from NCDC.

The patient would now be treated for fever, he said.

The man was suffering from fever and took treatment at a corporate hospital, but was referred to the state-run Gandhi Hospital.

“As per the WHO definition, he is not a suspect case (for Ebola). Nigeria has already been declared as Ebola-free by WHO,” Subhakar had said earlier in the day.

Since the man travelled in a common flight where passengers from African countries, which had reported Ebola outbreak, would also travel, the samples were sent for testing to NCDC as a measure of caution, he said.

The patient was put under isolation.

PTI