Man Steals Ebola Patient’s Phone, Gets Infected!

in Insolite — August 28, 2012 11:17 am | no comments

A 40-year-old man from Uganda has caught the poisonous Ebola virus after he allegedly stole a cell phone from a patient with the disease.

According to Huffingtonpost, the man stole a cell phone from an isolation ward in Uganda two weeks ago.

The unidentified, robber took a phone from a patient at Kagadi Hospital, where several people were quarantined during a recent Ebola outbreak in the area, said Huffingtonpost.

The site also reported that the patient has since succumbed to a deadly hemorrhagic fever stemming from the virus.

Investigators tracked the swindler after he started making phone calls to friends and it wasn’t long before the thief began showing symptoms, said the site.

He checked himself into the same hospital he’d stolen the phone from and confessed his crime to police. “Doctors said he is currently being treated,” said Huffingtonpost.

Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has since warned citizens not to shake hands and other physical contact after the first death from the deadly Ebola virus in the capital Kampala.

Ebola virus disease

Ebola virus disease is the human disease which may be caused by any of four of the five known ebola viruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Taï Forest virus (TAFV, formerly and more commonly Côte d’Ivoire Ebola virus (Ivory Coast Ebolavirus, CIEBOV)).

Signs and symptoms

EVD begins with a sudden onset of an influenza-like stage characterized by general malaise, fever with chills, arthralgia and myalgia, and chest pain. Nausea is accompanied by abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and vomiting. Respiratory tract involvement is characterized by pharyngitis with sore throat, cough, dyspnea, and hiccups. The central nervous system is affected as judged by the development of severe headaches, agitation, confusion, fatigue, depression, seizures, and sometimes coma.

Causes

EVD is caused by four of five viruses classified in the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, order Mononegavirales: Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Taï Forest virus (TAFV). The fifth virus, Reston virus (RESTV), is thought to be apathogenic for humans and therefore not discussed here.

Prevention

Many areas where the infectious reservoir exists have just these characteristics. In such environments, all that can be done is to immediately cease all needle-sharing or use without adequate sterilization procedures, isolate patients, and observe strict barrier nursing procedures with the use of a medical-rated disposable face mask, gloves, goggles, and a gown at all times, strictly enforced for all medical personnel and visitors. The aim of all of these techniques is to avoid any person’s contact with the blood or secretions of any patient, including those who are deceased.

thenewage.co.za