Noguchi investigating another suspected case of Coronavirus at Korle Bu

graphic.com.gh Mar - 06 - 2020 , 13:09 3 minutes read

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) is on Friday investigating a suspected case of the deadly Coronavirus [COVID-19] in Ghana.

This is from a patient who reported at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) on Thursday afternoon with symptoms of the disease.

The patient traveled into Ghana from the United States of America this week and reported at Korle Bu for medical care.

The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie in a radio with Accra-based Citi FM confirmed that the suspected case was being investigated.

“Yesterday, information reached us in the evening that there is a suspected case in Korle Bu and tests have been taken to know exactly what it is. Indeed, it is suspected to be COVID-19 and samples have been taken and sent to Noguchi Memorial Institute. I have been informed that they are actively working on it so we are waiting for the report. This person is a Ghanaian citizen who was living outside the country and has come to the country for a medical procedure,” he said.

He said Noguchi is expected to complete the tests on the latest case by close of day - Friday.

This is the second time the KBTH is recording a suspected case of the deadly disease. The first one which involved two Chinese nationals tested negative after examination and testing by the Noguchi Medical Research Institute.

Coronavirus: 46 suspected cases all test negative – GHS boss

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) had earlier said 46 suspected cases of Coronavirus in Ghana had all tested negative.

Dr. Patrick Aboagye however stated on Monday that one case, however, is still being tested.

“So far we’ve tested about 33 cases. All have proved negative. One case is being tested… All the tests were done here [in Ghana]. The tests are 100 percent sure. We have the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)… For now, the two are enough,” he had said.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service have announced various measures to prevent the virus and contain it should there be a reported case.

At the Airport, people arriving in the country are made to fill a declaration form that is used to determine their risk factors in terms of exposure to areas that have recorded cases of coronavirus.

Patrick Aboagye indicated that follow-up checks are made on all such contacts to ascertain whether or not they will show symptoms of the disease.