BANGKOK, Sept 12 — Thai physicians said today that a Netherlands national who was under examination to determine whether or not he was infected with the deadly Ebola virus, is now in the clear, as tests showed he only has the flu.
The 52-year old Dutch businessman had returned from a business trip in Nigeria on Wednesday.
While passing through the thermal scanner at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, he did not show signs of having a fever.
Later that night, he found himself with a high fever of 39.8 degrees Celsius and was admitted into a hospital, after questions proved that he was required to test for an Ebola infection.
A medical expert from the Department of Medical Services (DMS), Dr Nareumol Sawanpanyalert and Deputy Director of Department of Disease Control (DDC) Dr Opart Kamkawinpong, this morning informed the press that the patient’s blood test returned negative for Ebola, and his temperature has now lowered to stabilising at 37 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the close observation of 21 patients suspected of being infected with Ebola continued and they would undergo another blood test on Monday 15.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in the meantime, said that the Ebola virus would continue to spread for another 6-9 months, and a number of countries are sending funds and othef assistance to the three Ebola-plagued countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
