A patient with Ebola-like symptoms was yesterday afternoon put in isolation at King Faisal Hospital Kigali, the Ministry of Health said.

A ministry statement sent to The New Times, Sunday, indicates that samples from the patient are being tested.

"Samples from the suspected case have been sent for testing to an international accredited laboratory for approval, results will be available in 48 hours,” it said.

The suspected case is a European medical student.

It is the first Ebola-suspected case in Rwanda since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa.

According to the Ministry of Health, that all the persons who have been in contact with the suspected Ebola patient are being monitored and have also been placed in isolation. They include nurses, doctors, health managers, cashiers and the patients who were passing by as well as private contacts.

The Ministry of Health urged the public to stay calm and be vigilant, the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and all the needed preventive measures according to national standards are in place.

"Surveillance systems and emergency management systems have been established. Health workers have been trained across the country and are vigilant”.

This will enable timely detection, notification and appropriate management of any suspected cases to safeguard Rwandans, the statement said.

Symptoms & diagnosis

Early on, Ebola can feel like the flu or other illnesses. Symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after infection and usually include high fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, weakness, stomach pain, and lack of appetite.

As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose.  Some people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhea, and get a rash.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may test to rule out other diseases like cholera or malaria.

Tests of blood and tissues also can diagnose Ebola.

If you have Ebola, you’ll be isolated from the public immediately to prevent the spread.