Italy: Two Suspected Cases of Ebola in the Lombardy Region
Two Suspected Cases of Ebola Reported in Como: A Health Alert Triggered in Lombardy
Two suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in Como, prompting a health alert in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, according to local health sources.
The individuals involved are a woman and a man who returned from Uganda within the last twenty-four hours, traveling with other family members after spending approximately three months as humanitarian workers.
Both patients presented symptoms that could be associated with the Ebola virus, including high fever, nausea, vomiting, and intestinal issues. They were promptly transferred to Sacco Hospital in Milan, a facility specializing in the treatment of high-risk infectious diseases, where examinations are currently being conducted according to national and international protocols.
Guido Bertolaso, a health official from the Lombardy region, confirmed the activation of emergency procedures during a press conference. However, he cautioned that "there is still no certainty that this is Ebola."
The two patients hail from an area in Uganda close to the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, regions currently under surveillance due to a rise in Ebola cases.
According to doctors, the most likely hypothesis is that the woman, aged 30, may be suffering from a form of malaria, possibly cerebral, which could necessitate admission to intensive care. In contrast, the clinical picture for the 31-year-old man is milder; he is experiencing a fever of approximately 38 degrees Celsius and gastrointestinal issues.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Health emphasized that the risk of Ebola in Italy "remains very low."
