LUSAKA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Zambia on Tuesday dismissed reports that the country has recorded its first Ebola case.
Reports in some local media reported that the country recorded its first Ebola case on Monday following the admission of a 41-year-old patient at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital in Lusaka, the country's capital.
But the Zambian minister said the patient, who was quarantined at the hospital has no Ebola but septicemia, a bacteria in the blood that often occurs with severe infections.
He said laboratory tests conducted on the patient have ruled out any Ebola virus, adding that there was no need for people to panic.
The Zambian minister told reporters during a press briefing that admission of the patient to the hospital was an indication of the country's heightened surveillance system following the outbreak of the deadly disease in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said the government has increased surveillance measures in border areas with the DRC, adding that seven-member rapid surveillance teams have been set up in all districts bordering DRC.
"May I take this opportunity to inform the public that contrary to the news circulating in the social media there is no case of Ebola in Zambia," he said.
"Everything is under control and there is no need to panic as government has taken all the necessary measures to ensure heightened prevention, preparedness and response activities against Ebola," he added.
