Health authorities in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, said on Sunday that a patient initially suspected of having Ebola tested negative, seeking to reassure residents after reports of the case sparked concern in the community.
The patient, a soldier, was taken to hospital after vomiting blood, a symptom associated with Ebola and other illnesses. News of the case spread quickly in Yei, triggering fears of a possible outbreak.
Simon Sebit, director of health for Yei River County, told Radio Tamazuj that medical examinations ruled out Ebola and found that the patient was suffering from stomach ulcers linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
“Because vomiting blood is one of the symptoms associated with Ebola, the patient was treated as a suspected case and subjected to the necessary tests,” Sebit told reporters. “The results later confirmed that he did not have Ebola.”
Sebit said health authorities remain vigilant because of Ebola outbreaks reported in neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He said officials have intensified public awareness campaigns and surveillance efforts, urging residents to promptly report anyone displaying symptoms consistent with the disease.
Health officials said there are currently no confirmed Ebola cases in Yei River County or elsewhere in South Sudan.
The Ministry of Health has stepped up preparedness measures in border areas in recent months amid concerns over the risk of cross-border transmission from affected neighboring countries.
Officials urged the public to remain calm and rely on information from health authorities rather than unverified reports circulating on social media and within communities.
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