Suspected case of Ebola disease tests negative

The Ministry of Health has allayed the fears of Ghanaians who were worried Ghana had recorded its first case of the deadly Ebola virus.

The Health Ministry on Monday confirmed that the test from the 12-year-old girl’s blood who was suspected to have died from the virus in the Ashanti region proved negative.

The 12-year-old girl was first admitted at the pediatric unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi with symptoms of fever and bleeding.

Blood sample from the girl was sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for tests to confirm if Ghana had recorded its first case of Ebola.

But speaking to XYZ News, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman stated that tests carried out on the girl’s blood revealed that she did not die from the Ebola virus.

He added that since the tests were negative it means Ghana is yet to record any case of the Ebola virus.

The deadly flesh-eating haemorrhagic disease has already killed dozens of people in neighbouring Guinea. Cases have also been reported in Liberia and lately Mali.

Over 70 people have died so far in Guinea alone since the outbreak begun a little over a month ago. There is no known cure or vaccine for the haemorrhagic fever.

It is spread by close personal contact with people who are infected and kills between 25% and 90% of victims.

Symptoms include internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting.