Barbados Ebola rumours untrue, says health ministry

Bridgetown, Barbados (BGIS) — Any rumour of an Ebola case in Barbados is untrue, the ministry of health stated in response to persistent rumours of a suspected case of Ebola at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

According to chief medical officer, Dr Joy St John, the ministry can confirm that two persons who presented at the QEH with fever have tested positive for malaria.

The QEH has the capability for making such diagnoses. She added that neither of the persons has a travel history to the countries in West Africa where the Ebola outbreak is ongoing or has had contact with any persons who have Ebola.

They are now in-patients at the QEH and are receiving treatment.

Malaria is not endemic in Barbados.3