Suspected Ebola patient tests negative: Health minister

Gandhinagar: The businessman from Congo, admitted to the Civil Hospital as a suspected Ebola case, has tested negative for the disease, state health minister Praful Pansheriya said on Thursday. The patient had arrived in India around 10 days ago from the Republic of Congo, and had also spent time in Daman/Silvassa and Vadodara.

In a post on X, the health minister asked citizens not to panic or believe rumours about the Ebola scare, and rely only on information provided by the state health and family welfare department. The minister added that the state govt is fully alert, prepared, and committed to protecting public health.



“The report of a suspected patient of the infectious disease caused by the Ebola virus originating from Congo has come negative. Citizens are requested not to have any kind of fear or panic, to stay away from rumours, and rely only on the official information provided by the health department,” he posted.

On Wednesday, the state govt said that a 37-year-old businessman from Congo had been admitted to Civil Hospital and three persons who came in contact with him had been quarantined, adding that samples had been sent to NIV, Pune, for testing.

The businessman had arrived in Mumbai from Congo and later travelled to Vadodara. After he developed a fever, he was admitted to a private hospital in Vadodara before being shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s Ebola ward as a precautionary measure.

Two other persons who had accompanied the businessman were admitted to isolated wards at SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad, while another individual who had come in contact with them was also isolated. The minister had said on Wednesday that the three others who have been quarantined have not shown any symptoms of Ebola infection.

Special screening arrangements as well as an isolation ward have been put in place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, where intensive screening of passengers is being done, especially of those arriving from Uganda, Congo and South Sudan.