Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Social Care has confirmed that a Somali national suspected of contracting Ebola tested negative for the disease in two separate tests and has been released from quarantine.
In a statement, the ministry said the individual had completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period without developing any symptoms associated with Ebola.
The first test was conducted in Somalia on October 12 and returned a negative result. A second sample was sent to an external laboratory on October 19 for confirmation, with the results received on October 23, again confirming that the individual was not infected.
The individual was admitted to the Ebola quarantine and treatment centre at Forlanini Hospital in Mogadishu on October 12 after authorities established that he had been in direct contact with a person who died of Ebola in Kenya on October 5.
The ministry said the decision to release the individual followed the two negative test results, completion of the monitoring period and an assessment of the public health risk, in accordance with national and international health protocols.
It also confirmed that no Ebola cases have been recorded in Somalia to date, noting that the quarantine was precautionary because of the individual’s exposure to an infected person outside the country.
The ministry said it would continue strengthening disease surveillance, preparedness at entry points and measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
It urged the public to obtain health information from official sources and avoid spreading unverified reports.
Ebola symptoms include sudden fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea. In some cases, the disease can cause bleeding. Symptoms may develop between two and 21 days after exposure to the virus.
Mustaqbal
