India’s first Ebola patient has been kept under isolation at a special facility at Delhi airport, after his semen samples tested positive
A 26-year old Indian national returning from Liberia on November 10 has tested positive for Ebola. This is the first confirmed case of the deadly disease in India and has been quarantined at a special facility at Delhi airport. However, the Health Ministry informed that the man has already received treatment for the disease in Liberia and carried no symptoms. Three tests of his blood samples tested here were also found negative for and, hence, he is a cured case of Ebola as per WHO and CDC specifications.
The ministry statement also revealed that he has been put under isolation since his semen samples tested positive and the Ebola virus can spread through body fluids even during convalescence. Hence, the presence of virus in the semen can cause sexual transmission of the disease up to 90 days from time of clinical cure.
“The situation is under control and there is no need for any alarm. However, all precautions are being taken in this regard,” informed the ministry. He had also carried a certificate of medical clearance from the Liberian government, mentioning that “he has successfully undergone care and treatment related to Ebola and after post treatment assessment has been declared free of any clinical signs and symptoms and confirmed negative by laboratory analysis.”
The Health Ministry has said that the patient will be kept isolated until his body fluids test negative and is found medically fit to be discharged.
EH News Bureau – Mumbai