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Ebola alert WhatsApp message cause scare in Byo
11 Nov 2014 at 19:02hrs | Views
Ebola alert WhatsApp message cause scare in Byo
Staff Reporter
A WhatsApp message has been circulating in Bulawayo today alleging an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus said to have emanated from Nketa Clinic in the City.
Bulawayo Social Media users were shocked early this morning when they received an alert message claiming that a patient suspected to be suffering from malaria was diagnosed with the deadly virus in Nketa yesterday.
The message suspected to be a hoax declared Nketa, Nkulumane and Emganwini suburbs south of the city might "no go areas."
"….The Ebola virus was identified (sic) at Nketa clinic yesterday from a patient the doctors thought was a malaria patient," reads the message in possession of this publication.
The message further alleged that the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the local authorities had set quarantine border posts along Plumtree road, Nketa shops and Nkulumane Sekusile shopping centre.
"The Bulawayo City Council is calling the public to report cases of the virus to mobile health workers starting from tomorrow," further reads the worrying message.
Efforts to confirm the report from Nketa clinic drew a blank as health workers declined to comment on the issues saying "we are not allowed to comment on the matter even if it is true."
Authorities from the Health ministry could not be reachable for comment.
Zimbabwe has been declared Ebola free and the country has been on 'high' alert to thwart the virus from entering the country.
Government has also discouraged its citizens from visiting the Ebola prone countries while urging them to be on the lookout for symptoms of the disease.
Staff Reporter
A WhatsApp message has been circulating in Bulawayo today alleging an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus said to have emanated from Nketa Clinic in the City.
Bulawayo Social Media users were shocked early this morning when they received an alert message claiming that a patient suspected to be suffering from malaria was diagnosed with the deadly virus in Nketa yesterday.
The message suspected to be a hoax declared Nketa, Nkulumane and Emganwini suburbs south of the city might "no go areas."
"….The Ebola virus was identified (sic) at Nketa clinic yesterday from a patient the doctors thought was a malaria patient," reads the message in possession of this publication.
The message further alleged that the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the local authorities had set quarantine border posts along Plumtree road, Nketa shops and Nkulumane Sekusile shopping centre.
"The Bulawayo City Council is calling the public to report cases of the virus to mobile health workers starting from tomorrow," further reads the worrying message.
Efforts to confirm the report from Nketa clinic drew a blank as health workers declined to comment on the issues saying "we are not allowed to comment on the matter even if it is true."
Authorities from the Health ministry could not be reachable for comment.
Zimbabwe has been declared Ebola free and the country has been on 'high' alert to thwart the virus from entering the country.
Government has also discouraged its citizens from visiting the Ebola prone countries while urging them to be on the lookout for symptoms of the disease.
Source - Byo24News
