Ebola in India: Has the Nigeria returned Indian brought Ebola virus to Mumbai?

A 32-year-old man, who returned from Nigeria, has been suspected to have contracted the deadly Ebola virus on Sunday at Terminal 2 of the international airport. According to the airport officials, his eyes were red. He had mild fever and runny nose. He was immediately sent to civic-run hospital designated Bal Thackeray Trauma Care Centre in Jogeshwari, where he has been quarantined.

The suspect had landed via Dubai and he is the first passenger to be kept under quarantine at a hospital. Earlier, a resident from Vasai, who was suspected to have the disease, was quarantined at his home. (Read: 5 reasons the ebola virus should never come to India)

Although the suspect does not have any other classic symptoms of Ebola, he will be closely monitored until the doctors are sure that he does not carry the virus. His blood samples are sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. According to the doctors, until the results are confirmed, there is no need to panic. (Read more about Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)

Latest update: Nigeria returned Indian suspected with Ebola virus tests negative

Early symptoms of Ebola

Fever: Increase in body temperature is the first defence mechanism that the body uses to kill any foreign particle invading the body. When Ebola infects the body, it causes a release of various compounds like cytokines and histamines that pass on the signals of increasing body temperature. In fact, Ebola virus disease is also called the Ebola haemorrhagic fever, where the temperature can go above 38.6 C or 101.5 F.

Headache: It is the most common symptom of Ebola infection after fever, present in almost 96 percent of the cases. Nausea and headache along with fever present a typical case of common cold and flu. At this stage, the symptoms can be confused with other common infections.

Stomach pain: A few viral particles invade the liver and starts destroying the hepatocytes. New virions start damaging the intestinal cells causing abdominal pain.

Drop in blood pressure: The cytokines and histamines released by the immune cells, soon after the entry of the virus in the body, increases the permeability of the cells lining the blood vessels. This causes leakage of water from the blood into the surrounding tissues and a sudden drop in blood pressure. (Here are Ebola virus signs and symptoms you need to watch out for!)

Take this 60-second Ebola quiz and save your life!

Photo source: Getty images

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• Ebola in India: Healthcare officers to attend Ebola training programme next month

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