Brazil Confirms First Suspected Ebola Case

Brazil treats its first ever suspected case of Ebola, while waiting for the results of a blood test which are due to be released on Saturday.

As the number of deaths and infected individuals tend to increase, another patient suspected of having the disease is currently under observation. World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that there are already more than 4,000 people who died from the contagious disease, which began in the western part of Africa late last year. The growing number of cases are reportedly hard to control, especially now that several other cases have been noted in other countries.

According to the latest report concerning the spread of Ebola, another suspected patient begins to show a symptom of the infection. A Guinea national who arrived in Brazil on September 19 as a refugee started to manifest a fever, which is one of the symptoms of the said illness. The BBC says that a man identified as Souleymane Bah became ill on Wednesday in his home in the town of Cascavel.

The patient's fever reportedly showed within the 21-day incubation period of the Ebola virus. He was then placed in isolation and was flown to the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rio de Janeiro, which is a part of Brazil's protocol. Although the 47 year-old suspected Ebola patient did not demonstrate any signs of bleeding, health authorities still do not reject the idea that he is carrying the virus and is therefore capable to infect others.

Brazilian Health Minister, Arthur Chioro, said that 64 individuals are being monitored for any signs and symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever after being exposed to the man, while another three had a direct contact with him. However, officials consider it a low risk for Brazil. Health officials still await for the results of the series of blood tests in order to clearly identify if the man is potentially infectious.