In a follow-up to the news of the first case of Ebola in Senegal, the country’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reports the patient, a student at a university in Guinea Conakry, is in “satisfactory” condition at a Dakar hospital (computer translated).
The patient, a 21-year-old male native of Guinea, arrived in Dakar, by road, on 20 August and stayed with relatives at a home in the outskirts of the city.
After initially being diagnosed and treated for malaria, he presented for treatment at a specialized facility for infectious diseases in Dakar on 26 August, was not bleeding at the time, and did not disclose exposure to Ebola. However, following tests performed by the Pasteur Institute of Dakar, was placed in isolation in the infectious disease ward of Fann Hospital, Dakar. Fann Hospital has a dedicated infectious disease ward for isolation of potential cases.
Senegalese health authorities have already begun tracing of people who may have come into contact with the case.
The World Health Organization is treating this first case in Senegal as a top priority emergency. Key operational personnel were dispatched to Dakar today; others will follow. The Government of Senegal has informed WHO of the urgent need for epidemiological support, personal protective equipment, and hygiene kits. These needs will be met with the fastest possible speed. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
