Ebola suspicion causes panic over Italian air passenger in Turkey

An Italian passenger who arrived at İstanbul Atatürk Airport early Friday caused panic when she became ill onboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Kenya's Kano city, forcing airport officials to take special measures against potential contamination. 

The passenger, whose initials are reported to be E.S., a 23-year-old, was taken to a hospital by ambulance after she was reported to have vomited and was suffering from a fever during the flight, health officials said. 

The same officials also announced that the passenger had been diagnosed with malaria before she left Kenya and she reportedly had drugs with her for the treatment of malaria. Her doctors had permitted her to travel despite her illness. She was taken to a special room on the plane by the cabin crew after she vomited a second time. The pilot informed the Atatürk control tower about the passenger's state of health and asked for a healthcare team to be ready on landing. Having symptoms similar to those of the Ebola virus, the woman was taken to the hospital after arriving at the airport to determine whether she had contracted the virus or not and was kept isolated. 

Two Nigerian passengers from a Turkish Airlines flight traveling from Lagos, Nigeria to İstanbul in early August were also put under medical supervision on the suspicion that they had contracted the Ebola virus. The suspicions turned out to be unfounded. 

Nigerian national Stella Omorowa and her 4-year-old child also showed symptoms of fever and vomiting, which also occur with the Ebola virus. Following a medical examination, however, they were diagnosed with malaria and not Ebola. After receiving treatment, the Nigerian mother and child were allowed to leave Turkey.

New case rekindles Ebola fears in Turkey

A 34-year-old citizen has been quarantined in a southeastern Turkish town, rekindling fears of a possible case of the Ebola virus.

The patient, who works in Uganda and was visiting his hometown, was taken to an isolated room at the infection service of Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital in the Osmaniye province, Anadolu Agency reported Aug. 15.

Dr. Yeşim Taşova, the chief physician of the hospital, said the patient, identified as İ.K., was hospitalized on the night of Aug. 14, after having fever and severe diarrhea caused by an upper respiratory tract infection.

“The patient has been examined. He’s fine now and has no fever,” Taşova said, stressing all related authorities have been informed and the results of a blood analysis is expected to soon confirm or deny the suspicion of Ebola.

A Nigerian passenger, who arrived in Turkey early Aug. 12, had created panic when she became ill onboard while flying from Lagos to Istanbul. She was diagnosed with Malaria, not Ebola and was hence able to leave Turkey.

Turkish authorities are on high alert as the virus keeps spreading in Africa. A boy who was travelling with his parents from Nairobi to Istanbul was taken to a doctor due to fever and vomiting after their plane landed in Istanbul. He was allowed to fly in transit to another country after officials of the Directorate General of Health for Border and Coastal Areas approved of the decision.