That patient has malaria after a trip to Liberia; initial Ebola test negative

By adamg on Wed, 12/03/2014 - 1:40pm

Mass. General reported at 12:45 p.m.:

The initial test for Ebola on the patient admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday with suspected Ebola virus disease is negative. The patient has, however, tested positive for malaria. Further diagnostic testing is needed to definitively rule out Ebola virus disease and other diagnoses.

The patient had been undergoing routine monitoring by the Boston Public Health Commission after previously working in Liberia in a non-medical capacity. In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and out of an abundance of caution for our patients, their families and our staff, the hospital is continuing to follow the highest possible safety precautions. The patient is in good spirits and remains in a specially prepared isolated area within the hospital.

The patient has given Mass General consent to release the information above.

Free tagging:

Ebola

MGH

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Comments

Malaria is a well known "confounder" for Ebola

By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 12/03/2014 - 1:52pm

From the MSF protocols for returning staff:

Upon returning to the United States, each MSF staff member goes through a thorough debriefing process, during which they are informed of our guidelines.

The guidelines include the following instructions:

1. Check temperature two times per day
2. Finish regular course of malaria prophylaxis (malaria symptoms can mimic Ebola symptoms)
3. Be aware of relevant symptoms, such as fever
4. Stay within four hours of a hospital with isolation facilities
5. Immediately contact the MSF-USA office if any relevant symptoms develop

These guidelines are consistent with those provided by the CDC to people returning from one of the Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. MSF is also implementing new federal guidelines outlining reporting requirements for people returning from Ebola affected countries.

Malaria presents with similar symptoms as Ebola, but has an entirely different course and mode of transmission. Perhaps, in addition to being monitored for temperature, returning or incoming visitors should be advised to take antimalarial therapy? Malaria itself is a serious health threat to those living and traveling in many areas of the world.

[img=300x300]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69...

So relieved!

By Markk02474
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 3:53pm

People in Mass could have started building bomb shelters, stocking up on astronaut food, and building an arsenal in preparation for a zombie apocalypse!

In other news, another 114 people died in the US today from drug overdoses.

Not the only deaths...

By spin o rama
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 11:19am

Another 100 people were killed in the US today by automobiles.

Wrong, drugs kill more than cars

By Markk02474
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 3:55pm

Overdoses kill more people than automobiles in the US every year.
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/overd...

That's IT!!!

By Cappy
Wed, 12/03/2014 - 5:22pm

I'm staying away from the Library!

I know the pathologist on this case!

By MassMouse
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 10:53am

Went to Stoughton High with him and we had recently connected back up again. This is what I found on his Faceboom page yesterday:

"When an Ebola scare turns out to be Malaria, you can thank your friendly clinical pathologist for getting the right answer. ‪#‎MGHPathology‬"

Yay Pathology!!!!