The UPA attention unit of the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguazú was put under quarantine today due to the arrival of a tourist showing alleged Ebola symptoms. According to the municipal health secretary Charles Bortoli, the patient told authorities he had been in Sierra Leone 23 days ago, one of the African countries most affected by the epidemic.
A statement released by the Health Office of the Paraná State, however, later ruled out suspicions explaining there had been a misunderstanding when speaking with the patient who had said he had been in Sierra Leona. When authorities checked the tourist’s passport it was confirmed he had been in China, Dubai, Italy and Lebanon but not in the African country.
The Brazilian daily O’Globo earlier reported that the UPA center and all medical workers there had been isolated following international protocols as all roads to the area have been closed.
Prior to the false alarm confirmation, Bortoli pointed out the patient could be suffering from malaria. “The first decision was to close the UPA (center) and inform the State Health Office that should indicate the steps to follow,” he said.
The Foz de Iguazú city limits with Paraguay and Argentina where a special intensive care unit at the Buenos Aires City Muñiz Hospital has been set to treat any possible Ebola patients in the country. No cases yet have been reported here.
buenosairesherald.com