The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO foreign nationals were released from Princess Margaret Hospital over the weekend after testing negative for Ebola following more than a week in quarantine prompted by their recent travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The men, one a British national and the other a French national, were placed in isolation at Lynden Pindling International Airport on May 22 after presenting with fever-like symptoms during airport screening shortly after arriving in The Bahamas on a British Airways flight from Heathrow Airport.

They were among 218 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in a press release on Saturday that the men had been released from the modular unit at Princess Margaret Hospital after testing negative for the virus.

Health officials said there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in The Bahamas and that the overall risk to the public remains low. The National Surveillance Unit will continue to monitor the global situation.

The health scare prompted an emergency press conference last month and placed health officials on high alert after the men confirmed they had spent about three weeks in Congo before travelling to Ethiopia and then on to The Bahamas.

The incident came amid growing international concern over an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa that has killed hundreds of people.

Health officials said that although the pair had travelled to Congo, the areas they visited are not currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak or reporting active cases.

Officials said the two passengers, described as pilots conducting cargo flights, were not in contact with Ebola patients, did not attend funerals, and did not handle bodily fluids or other materials of concern.

Although the men were initially found to have fevers, no additional symptoms were detected. The remaining passengers and crew were also screened and later released.

The case unfolded as some countries tightened travel measures in response to the health threat.

According to international reports, the United States has temporarily restricted the entry of lawful permanent residents who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days because of Ebola concerns.

Last month, the Davis administration denied entry to travellers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also advised Bahamians to avoid travel to those areas and to exercise caution when travelling to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Zambia.

Ebola is a rare and often fatal illness caused by a group of viruses known as Orthoebolaviruses. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and weakness. In severe cases, symptoms can progress to vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain.