A male, who worked as a medical officer on a commercial ship off the west coast of Africa has been isolated at The University of Kansas Hospital with Ebola like symptoms. The person, who is in their 40’s was on the ship off the west coast of Africa as recently as four or five days ago. He’s now considered a moderate risk for Ebola. This person lives on the Kansas side of Kansas City, not in Missouri.
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| Male hospitalized in Kansas City with Ebola like symptoms |
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According to a news release, the patient is being kept in strict isolation and tests are being done to determine a diagnosis. Dr. Lee Norman, chief medical officer of the hospital, says that there are many other diseases that fit the patient’s symptoms, but the hospital is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control to determine whether the patient has Ebola or not. Doctors expect blood samples to be returned by 5 or 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The man had been on the ship as recently as four-to-five days ago according to Dr. Norman and resides in Kansas City, Kan. The patient said he had diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and general fatigue; Dr. Norman says he’s lost a lot of weight due to dehydration, but showed signs of improvement after being treated and given IV fluids on Monday.
Doctors are encouraged that the patient hasn’t worsened during the course of his stay, shows normal levels of hemoglobin and other blood counts and hasn’t shown any evidence of hemorrhaging, which is commonly associated with Ebola.