A 35-year-old Nigerian woman, travelling from Nigeria to India for
cancer treatment, has died in the UAE after showing symptoms similar to
those of deadly Ebola virus, health authorities said on Sunday.
During her transit phase at Abu Dhabi international airport, the
patient’s health deteriorated and despite prompt medical assistance she
could not be successfully resuscitated, Abu Dhabi Health Authority
disclosed in a statement.
The woman showed signs “that may be consistent with Ebola virus
infection”, although her existing medical condition provided an adequate
medical explanation, it added.
All contacts of the patient, including her husband who was the only
person sitting next to her on the plane and five medical professionals
who treated her, are in isolation pending the result of Ebola testing on
the patient.
Those people are, as of now, all well and have showed no symptoms, the authority said.
In recent months, Ebola has claimed more than 1,000 lives across West
Africa, especially in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone while Nigeria
has registered four Ebola deaths.