Detained S’African is Ebola-negative

The South African woman seized and isolated in Lagos on Thursday on the suspicion of having Ebola has tested negative to the virus.

The South African, who is based in Cape Town but recently visited Ebola-afflicted countries Guinea and Sierra Leone, showed symptoms of diarrhoea and was also vomiting, prompting suspicion that she might have contracted the virus.

On arrival at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, she was “held” and taken to the isolation centre in Lagos, while tests were conducted on her.

“This person has been in Guinea and Sierra Leone since April … she has symptoms,” Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh, director of Port Health Services at the airport, said of the suspicion.

But on Friday, minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed that the test result showed the woman to be Ebola-negative.

“The South African woman has tested negative for Ebola Virus Disease,” Dan Nwomeh, his special assistant on media and communication, said.

“She is still being investigated for other diseases; but for Ebola, laboratory result is negative.”