Fears mystery Congo disease already in America as Ohio hospital quarantines African traveler with unknown flu illness
An Ohio hospital was in panic last night after a patient who had recently arrived from Africa was rushed to its ER with a flu-like illness.
The individual was quarantined when staff learned the patient had traveled from Tanzania, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a mystery disease outbreak has killed dozens.
But in an update this morning, a spokesperson for the hospital said the patient’s condition was found to be ‘routine’ and not linked to the outbreak. They have now been removed from isolation.
The response, however, highlights growing concerns around the situation in the DRC that has so far sickened at least 376 people and killed up to 143.
Hong Kong yesterday became the first territory to bring in health checks for travelers arriving from Africa, requiring passengers to take temperature tests upon arrival. Several flights arrive in the US from Africa every day, including in New York City, Atlanta and Washington DC.
Patients infected with the mystery disease are reported to be suffering from a flu-like illness, with symptoms including a fever, headache, nasal discharge, cough, difficulty breathing and anemia, or lack of healthy red blood cells.
The country’s Health Minister Roger Kamba told reporters yesterday that his nation was on ‘maximum alert’ over the outbreak, and added that the disease appeared to be ‘respiratory’.
A team from the World Health Organization is in the area conducting tests to identify the disease behind the outbreak, with results expected in the coming days.
The above shows UH St. John Medical Cente outside Cleveland, Ohio, where the patient – who recently arrived from Tanzania – was being treated
The above shows Congolese officials and World Health Organization officials during a training exercise for the Ebola virus carried out in August 2018 in North Kivu province, DRC
The outbreak was first recorded on October 24, in Kwango, a rural province in the southwest of the country.
The Ohio patient is being treated at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center outside Cleveland and had traveled to the US from Tanzania.
In an update this morning, the hospital said: ‘We are pleased to report the patient’s condition is considered routine and they are no longer in isolation.
‘We were told the patient came from a region which is experiencing the outbreak of a deadly virus.
‘[But] infectious disease specialists, working with the Ohio Department of Health, determined the cause of the patient’s symptoms are routine.’
The Ohio Department of Health, which was notified of the case, told DailyMail.com that it was routine for them to be notified about the case and that ‘we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the general public’.
A source told DailyMail.com Thursday that they were ‘aware’ of the outbreak in the DRC and were in contact with health officials there and ‘stand ready to provide additional support if needed.’
The World Health Organization has deployed a team to the southwestern province where the outbreak is being reported to take samples and test for the disease.
It took the team at least two days to arrive in the province, according to local officials, and samples have been sent more than 300miles to be tested.
