Hours before the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management presented three thermal scanners to the Airports Authority yesterday, a Nigerian student was admitted to hospital with malaria. The scanners will be used to detect the arrival of suspected cases of Ebola at the international airports in Tobago and Trinidad. In a release yesterday, Ministry of Health officials said there were no suspected Ebola cases in the country.
On October 20, the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria to be Ebola-free. Following the WHO's move, Government removed travel restrictions on persons travelling from Nigeria to T&T on October 22. Checks into the student’s recent travel history showed that he had not travelled outside of Nigeria for over one year before he arrived in T&T in early December. Although it was confirmed that he was suffering with malaria, officials said he was being closely monitored.
The student was first treated at the Accident and Emergency Department of the St James Medical Complex on December 19, before being transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for “further management.” Medical personnel became wary after the student began exhibiting symptoms such as fever and vomiting. Contacted yesterday, hospital officials confirmed the student remained warded in a stable condition.
Travel restrictions have remained in effect for countries where Ebola outbreaks continue to be reported. The ministry is continuing to monitor arriving passengers at all the legal ports of entry. Medical institutions have been urged to remain vigilant for suspected cases of Ebola and other viruses.