"The parasite Plasmodium falciparum was found in his blood," the acting secretary disclosed. (Photo: mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk)

The peacekeeper from Liberia who had fever was tested negative for Ebola but was positive of having Malaria, Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin revealed in a press conference at the National Kidney Transplant Institute.

"Negatibo po ang Ebola testsa ating pasyente subalit ikinalulungkot nating malaman na positibo siya samalaria (Our patient tested negative for Ebola. Unfortunately, he is positive of having malaria)," Garin said. o­n Friday, the acting health chief stated that they can get the result for Ebola test in 48 hours. However, the health team at Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), where the peacekeeper was brought, came up with a sure result. RITM Director Soccorro Lupisan said the result is "not equivocal" and there is "no need for another examination." The test result revealed that a parasite caused the patient's fever.

"May nakita pong Plasmodium falciparum sa kanyang dugo (The parasite Plasmodium falciparumwas found in his blood," the acting secretary disclosed. Garin explained that Plasmodium falciparium, a parasite that causes malaria, can lead to a more serious illness if not immediately treated as it could affect a patient's brain. The good thing, she said, is that the treatment for the patient started before the illness started to have complications.

Lupisan said the patient will be at the RITM for a minimum of three to five days or a maximum of o­ne week, depending o­n his recovery. Furthermore, she said that curing malaria is RITM's expertise and the RITM team has cured some 20 returning overseas workers who arrived earlier this year from Africa (not o­nly from West Africa).

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