New case rekindles Ebola fears in Turkey

A 34-year-old citizen has been quarantined in a southeastern Turkish town, rekindling fears of a possible case of the Ebola virus.

The patient, who works in Uganda and was visiting his hometown, was taken to an isolated room at the infection service of Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital in the Osmaniye province, Anadolu Agency reported Aug. 15.

Dr. Yeşim Taşova, the chief physician of the hospital, said the patient, identified as İ.K., was hospitalized on the night of Aug. 14, after having fever and severe diarrhea caused by an upper respiratory tract infection.

“The patient has been examined. He’s fine now and has no fever,” Taşova said, stressing all related authorities have been informed and the results of a blood analysis is expected to soon confirm or deny the suspicion of Ebola.

A Nigerian passenger, who arrived in Turkey early Aug. 12, had created panic when she became ill onboard while flying from Lagos to Istanbul. She was diagnosed with Malaria, not Ebola and was hence able to leave Turkey.

Turkish authorities are on high alert as the virus keeps spreading in Africa. A boy who was travelling with his parents from Nairobi to Istanbul was taken to a doctor due to fever and vomiting after their plane landed in Istanbul. He was allowed to fly in transit to another country after officials of the Directorate General of Health for Border and Coastal Areas approved of the decision.