TORONTO – Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, issued the following statement on a patient testing negative for Ebola Virus Disease in Ontario:
“I can now confirm a recent case that underwent testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg was found to test negative for Ebola virus disease.
Brampton Civic Hospital tested a patient who recently traveled to Canada from West Africa and presented with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain and malaise. This was done as a precautionary measure.
Initial signs and symptoms of Ebola are similar to many more common diseases and health care providers have been advised to be on heightened alert for Ebola cases. Health professionals responded to the alert appropriately, by identifying an individual who potentially may have been affected, taking enhanced infection-prevention precautions, and testing. Our system worked as it should.
We are glad to hear that the patient is doing well, and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
I would like to thank all of the health care workers and public health officials involved in the case for their tireless work.
Ontarians should know that we are fully prepared should any cases appear in the province. This situation was the result of all our protocols working effectively.”
Nigerian Ebola Update
Nigerians are turning to social media jokes to ease the tension of an Ebola outbreak in the region, now that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency.
Some of the jokes include pictures of the ‘Ebola hug’, the ‘Ebola handshake’ and the ‘Ebola kiss.’
“I mean, people just say certain things or make jokes out of some certain things just to ease themselves and ease the tension, it’s good, you know, when you can just ease your tension with jokes,” stated one of the music producers.
Rumors — not supported by medical professionals — are also spreading that adding salt to bathing and drinking water can prevent the deadly virus.
In the city of Lagos, mixed reactions about the Ebola outbreak.
One newspaper vendor says customers think Ebola can be spread to others if an infected person touches his newspapers, which is then picked up by someone else.
Getting the facts out is a priority for governments.
