Ebola Scare Hits Korle- Bu


Operations at the Korle-Bu Polyclinic came to a standstill yesterday following reports of a possible Ebola case, sending reporters running to the location.

This was after a patient was brought in on Monday evening with signs of the dreaded virus, bleeding from various openings, and wet cough and dehydrated.

Authorities at the place therefore decided to temporarily close down the place the following day (which was yesterday) to enable investigations into the case.

People who called in at the facility were therefore turned away to avoid possible contraction while the patient was kept in an isolated ward at the polyclinic.

Only patients on admission were being attended to by medical doctors and nurses alike.

Access to the out-patient department (OPD) area had been blocked for vehicles with an ordinary rope even though there was no proper mechanism in place to cordon off the area from humans who moved up and down.

There was not a single individual at the OPD except some hospital staff who were seen cleaning up the place.

Security men were seen telling people who called into access healthcare at other facilities while staff, including some nurses, doctors and allied staff were seen loitering with some in groups conversing.

At the time this reporter got to the scene around 8:00am, management of the place, including senior staff were locked up in a meeting behind closed doors to fashion out ideas how to handle the case.

Hours later around 10:00am, it turned out the entire speculation of a possible Ebola case was a hoax and a false alarm as investigations (medical test) established the patient had tuberculosis and not the dreaded virus as was suspected.

Work resumed immediately with the facility now admitting new patience.

Management of KBTH subsequently issued a statement denying any outbreak of Ebola, asking the public not to believe any such claims.

BY Charles Takyi-Boadu

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