Harare - Zimbabwe’s infectious diseases hospital in Harare was closed early on Thursday as doctors awaited results for an ill person, allegedly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who has been tested for the Ebola virus.
The tests will be carried out by a laboratory in South Africa.
Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital was closed to the public for at least three days as a woman was admitted, but has since been found to have malaria.
Harare city health director Dr Prosper Chonzi told web newspaper
The Zimbabwe Mail that a woman patient was quarantined at the hospital, but declined to disclose her identity and origin.
“We did malaria rapid tests and she tested positive for malaria.
“It’s unlikely that it’s Ebola, but the patient will remain in isolation. Specimens will be sent to South Africa today (Thursday). The hospital will open if the case tests negative. The patient has a history of travelling to DRC Lubumbashi.”
Chonzi said the patient had been under surveillance for the past 21 days, but was vomiting and had a nose bleed, which were some of the symptoms of Ebola.
Zimbabwe’s laboratories cannot test for Ebola and the creaking public health system is heavily dependent on South Africa for many drugs, equipment and all but basic laboratory services.
Travellers to Zimbabwe say they notice that immigration officials at the main international airport in Harare are checking passports and travel documents before processing visitors and returning residents to check if any have been in west Africa recently.
Daily News Foreign Service