Saudi Arabia suspects case of Ebola infection

Man in his 40s in critical condition after showing hemorrhagic fever symptoms upon return from Sierra Leone

By AFP 5 August 2014, 9:55 pm

Edit

Dr. Leslie Lobel visits an Ebola survivor in his home. (Photo credit: Eric Weiss/Courtesy of Leslie Lobel)

Doctors in Saudi Arabia are testing a patient suspected of having contracted Ebola during a trip to West Africa, hit by an epidemic of the virus, the health ministry said Tuesday.

The Saudi man was admitted to hospital in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after showing symptoms of hemorrhagic fever upon his return from Sierra Leone.

The patient, in his 40s, is in critical condition and has symptoms “similar to that of Ebola infection.”

Ebola-like symptoms include fever, vomiting, severe headaches and muscular pain and, in the final stages, profuse bleeding.

The UN World Health Organisation said Monday that at least 887 people have died from Ebola since the beginning of the year, after the virus spread across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In April, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on visas for Muslims in the three West African nations wishing to perform the pilgrimage to the Muslim holy sites there.