Ebola and Cerebral Malaria

In the mid-afternoon, the 13-year-old girl Ramata finally died.  We donned and went into the Suspected Ward to confirm her death.  She was lying on the mattress placed on the floor in rigor mortis and foaming in the mouth.  It was very difficult to straighten her arms. Her Ebola test was negative but we did not receive the result for malaria, we were still convinced that she died of cerebral malaria. She died alone in the ETC.  The WASH Team would come in to spray her body and take her to the morgue.

In the Confirmed Ward, Kadiatu, Fatmata K’s mother was gasping for breath, her breathing was agonal, head thrown back, mouth open and crusted with old blood.  Her eyes partially open, they had long lost their lustre, there was no glint of life in them.  Ebola had played havoc with her body, she stopped producing urine; her kidneys had shut down.  She died later in our shift.  Now the only member of this family remained in the ward is Doris who is in the next room.  This afternoon she had also taken a turn for the worse.  Normally she enjoys lying on her mattress outside the ward as it is an inferno inside.  Patients who sit or lie outside are those who are strong enough to do so.  This afternoon, we found her lying on her bed, stripped naked except for her diaper.  Her caretaker was sponging her to lower her temperature.  She was awake but she had traces of blood in her nostrils.

Mohamed was also coughing up blood and 10-year-old Yaema was starting to have bloody diarrhea; all signs for more severe Ebola infection.  All the patients in the Confirmed Ward were sick except for Gabriel who was still waiting for his second Ebola test.

Mayeni, the woman who came to the gate a few days ago sick with fever was all better and had no Ebola infection.  Everything that she brought into the ETC with her including her brown bag would be burnt except for some of her things that could withstand thirty minutes of soaking in 0.5 percent bleach. Wearing a pink t-shirt with a Chinese character that meant happiness, she was all smiles and headed for the shower to get ready for home.  

Marie's first Ebola test was negative and her baby Suzah was a picture of health, babbling merrily next to her.  We promised to get some baby formula for her. 

We are all eagerly waiting for Gabriel to have a second negative test for Ebola to lift our spirits here in the ETC.  It may just happen tomorrow.