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Liberia: The boy who tricked ebola
Martin Zinggl/MSF
16 September 2014
Mamadee, 11, was admitted to MSF's Ebola management centre in Foya, Liberia on 15 August 2014. He tested positive for Ebola, but recovered, and was discharged on 4 September 2014.
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Except one: Mamadee, a young boy of eleven years, is performing an Azonto dance, as the crowd watches him. He jumps, he ducks, he steps to the side, first left, then right, then left, then right, jumps again, turns, swings his hips and shakes his arms. And he doesn?t stop, he doesn?t get tired.
It is difficult to believe but Mamadee is a patient. An Ebola-confirmed patient.
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When Mamadee was firstly admitted on 15 August, he tested negative for Ebola and was discharged. Staying overnight in the guesthouse as his village Sarkonedu was too far to travel to, he developed some signs and was readmitted the next day. He was displaying symptoms of nausea, fever, muscle pain, intense fatigue, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
?He was a clear Ebola patient,? says Dr. Roberta Petrucci. ?Only the jaundice made us doubt.? The doctors treated him with multivitamins, paracetamol, oral rehydration solution, antibiotics and with antimalarial pills, as Mamadee had also tested positive for malaria.
On 20 August, the second Ebola test result returned and it was as expected ? positive. The only thing that didn?t fit into the picture was that young Mamadee in the meantime was already feeling good and running around.
?We couldn?t believe it,? says Dr. Petrucci. ?We thought it must have been a mistake.? When the medical staff took another blood test a few days later, they realised that there had been no mistake. Mamadee still tested positive.
?The lab normally doesn?t make mistakes,? Dr. Petrucci continued. ?And especially twice in a row with the same patient.? So, even though Mamadee was everything but symptomatic, he could theoretically infect others. ?We had no other choice other than to keep him in the CMC as the result was still positive,? she says.
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Unfortunately Mamadee?s wish to leave could not be granted as his third test on 30 August was also positive. ?His medical record is outstanding but not exceptional,? states Dr. Petrucci. ?But his attitude is definitely exceptional. Every day, the boy spreads a good spirit to the patients and staff. He is always smiling and happy. Everybody likes him and we will all be very sad and miss him once he leaves, even though we wish for him that he gets out of here as soon as possible.?
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One week after, Mamadee?s sister, Mayan was admitted to the CMC. The 14 year old girl passed away after a few days, just one tent away from her brother. When his mother tells him about Mayan?s death with tears in her eyes, he stays strong and simply says ?Don?t cry, Mama?
On 4 September, Mamadee?s fourth test returns from the laboratory in neighbouring Gueckedou, Guinea. It is negative, finally. Mamadee rushes out of the CMC. ?I am very happy today,? says the young survivor, not knowing the deadly game he has just won.
Mamadee may have won the game, but Ebola is quickly defeating far too many others.
Martin Zinggl/MSF
16 September 2014
Mamadee, 11, was admitted to MSF's Ebola management centre in Foya, Liberia on 15 August 2014. He tested positive for Ebola, but recovered, and was discharged on 4 September 2014.
snip
Except one: Mamadee, a young boy of eleven years, is performing an Azonto dance, as the crowd watches him. He jumps, he ducks, he steps to the side, first left, then right, then left, then right, jumps again, turns, swings his hips and shakes his arms. And he doesn?t stop, he doesn?t get tired.
It is difficult to believe but Mamadee is a patient. An Ebola-confirmed patient.
snip
When Mamadee was firstly admitted on 15 August, he tested negative for Ebola and was discharged. Staying overnight in the guesthouse as his village Sarkonedu was too far to travel to, he developed some signs and was readmitted the next day. He was displaying symptoms of nausea, fever, muscle pain, intense fatigue, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
?He was a clear Ebola patient,? says Dr. Roberta Petrucci. ?Only the jaundice made us doubt.? The doctors treated him with multivitamins, paracetamol, oral rehydration solution, antibiotics and with antimalarial pills, as Mamadee had also tested positive for malaria.
On 20 August, the second Ebola test result returned and it was as expected ? positive. The only thing that didn?t fit into the picture was that young Mamadee in the meantime was already feeling good and running around.
?We couldn?t believe it,? says Dr. Petrucci. ?We thought it must have been a mistake.? When the medical staff took another blood test a few days later, they realised that there had been no mistake. Mamadee still tested positive.
?The lab normally doesn?t make mistakes,? Dr. Petrucci continued. ?And especially twice in a row with the same patient.? So, even though Mamadee was everything but symptomatic, he could theoretically infect others. ?We had no other choice other than to keep him in the CMC as the result was still positive,? she says.
snip
Unfortunately Mamadee?s wish to leave could not be granted as his third test on 30 August was also positive. ?His medical record is outstanding but not exceptional,? states Dr. Petrucci. ?But his attitude is definitely exceptional. Every day, the boy spreads a good spirit to the patients and staff. He is always smiling and happy. Everybody likes him and we will all be very sad and miss him once he leaves, even though we wish for him that he gets out of here as soon as possible.?
snip
One week after, Mamadee?s sister, Mayan was admitted to the CMC. The 14 year old girl passed away after a few days, just one tent away from her brother. When his mother tells him about Mayan?s death with tears in her eyes, he stays strong and simply says ?Don?t cry, Mama?
On 4 September, Mamadee?s fourth test returns from the laboratory in neighbouring Gueckedou, Guinea. It is negative, finally. Mamadee rushes out of the CMC. ?I am very happy today,? says the young survivor, not knowing the deadly game he has just won.
Mamadee may have won the game, but Ebola is quickly defeating far too many others.