The Ministry of Health on Monday described as “untrue” reports being circulated on social media about a possible case of Ebola in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Ministry, however, confirmed that it was treating a Nigerian student for Malaria, after the student suffered a relapse of that mosquito-borne illness.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment that information is being circulated about a possible case of Ebola in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment assures the nation that this is untrue. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Keizer- Beache says that there is no Ebola case being treated at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital,” Neeka Anderson Isaacs, communications officer in the Ministry of Health said in a press statement.
“The Ministry can confirm that a Nigerian Medical Student who has a history of Malaria is being treated for a malaria relapse at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
“The Chief Medical Officer, however, emphasises that because of the current surveillance system for Ebola, the Ministry was able to quickly determine that this person does not meet the criteria to be considered as a suspect case.
“Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, the Accident and Emergency Department at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital was temporarily cleared of all ambulant patients for a brief period this afternoon.
“The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is working closely with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in the management of this patient who is currently being treated in the Isolation Unit at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, as is required for any Malaria patient.
The Ministry and the relevant stakeholders continue to remain vigilant in this regard,” Anderson Isaacs said.