Jodhpur man did not die of Ebola in Delhi: Health ministry

A 35-year old man from Jodhpur, who had symptoms similar to those of Ebola virus disease, died Wednesday at the AIIMS hospital. The health ministry said the man was not suffering from the deadly virus.

A health ministry statement released Wednesday evening said tests conducted at the National Centre for Disease Control confirmed that the man was not affected by the Ebola virus.

"The clinical sample of the patient shifted to AIIMS and who subsequently died today (Wednesday) has tested negative for Ebola Virus Disease as per tests conducted at the National Centre for Disease Control," the statement said.

It said Jodhpur district's chief medical officer had informed the state health authorities in Jaipur about high-grade fever in five hospital functionaries working at a private hospital in Jodhpur.

The health ministry said the Jodhpur hospital functionaries had no travel history to Ebola affected countries.

Two of them developed Thrombocytopenia (fall in blood platelet count) and showed haemorrhagic manifestations.

One person died in the hospital Jan 18 and the other was airlifted to AIIMS, who died Wednesday.

According to doctors, the man who died Wednesday was very sick when he arrived and had symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, disorientation and severe weight loss, which are also symptoms of Ebola.

The statement said samples from these patients were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for tests.

Health authorities of Gujarat and Rajasthan have also been alerted for a possible diagnosis of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

"A three-member team of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi is visiting Jodhpur for outbreak investigation and providing public health support to the state health authorities," the statement added.