COVID-19: How Kano Index Case Deceived us into Admitting him in our Hospital – Personal Doctor

Malik Yahya/

The doctor who attended to the index COVID-19 case in Kano State at a private neuro-surgical specialist hospital in Kano city, where he was on admission prior to the confirmation of his status, has claimed that the patient lied about his symptoms and medical history.

The doctor, who is identified as James King on Facebook, shared his experience with patient, who is a 75-year-old retired civil servant and ex-diplomat, in a Facebook post, today.

The doctor said at the time the patient visited his hospital, he also did not disclose the fact that his samples had already been taken for COVID-19 test.

According to him, the former ambassador only complained of fever, general body weakness, mouth dryness and loss of appetite.

The patient was silent about his recent overseas travel before arriving Kano from Abuja after a brief stay in Kaduna as well, the doctor revealed.

He said the hospital also learnt later that during his illness, the patient attended Jumaat, prayers, naming ceremonies and other gatherings.

The ambassador was eventually admitted into one of the private rooms on April 10, only for the hospital to learn the following day that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

He said the hospital was subsequently shut down while all the other staff who had contact with the patient, including the proprietor, three nurses and one non-medical staff, were quarantined in the hospital.

He said they all remained in the hospital until yesterday when the test results for all of them returned negative.

Read his unedited account below:

I wanted to be silent about this.

But since it’s already on Radio and TV stations, ..and the concerns about my health by many who have reached out,

…it has become imperative for me to tell my COVID-19 mileu.

Here’s the story…

One Alhaji BZ (not real names initials) came to our hospital on Friday, 10th April, 2020.

He had COVID-19.

Unknown to us all.

While evaluating him, he was asked,
“How can we help you sir?”

He replied,
“I’ve been having fever and general body weakness, mouth dryness, loss of appetite.”

Inquired,
“For how long now?”

He replied
“For some days?

More questions,
“Do you have cough, breathlessness or palpitations?”

Alhaji BZ replied,
“No”, I don’t have any of that.”

Many other medical questions were asked and documented.

Furthermore,
“Did you travel recently?”

He denied,
“No.”

He was further evaluated, examined and admitted into a private room upstairs on Friday 10th, April 2020 at about 7:30pm by my boss.

He had contact with two doctors (my boss and I), three nurses and one non-medical staff.

It was unknown to us that he was alleged to have travelled abroad too before returning to my resident state.

Via Abuja travelling by road.

While travelling by road he stayed briefly in Kaduna before arriving to my resident state on the 25th March, 2020.

He denied all these travel history to us.

He also denied about the pertinent Coronavirus symptoms, ..breathlessness and cough.

He also hid the fact that he had been to several medical outlets since his return to the state.

And importantly, he did not provide information that his samples were taken by NCDC for COVID-19 testing before coming to us.

Ofcourse he denied all the above in order for him to have our medical care.

Putting us all and many others at high risk of the novel pandemic.

We also learnt that during his illness before coming to us, he was attending Friday Mosque prayers, naming ceremonies and other gatherings.

While on admission in our facility, a day after admission being a Saturday, we had a Nollywood-like dramatic entrance into our facility by health officials with massive Police presence.

The major road around our hospital was blocked and made a Security Restricted area.

He was the index case in the state, …reason for this.

The officials told us that we had a man in our facility that just tested positive for COVID-19.

Luckily, my boss, a reknown Neurosurgeon, who was still in theatre while rounding up a delicate Spinal Cord Pedicle Screw Fixation + Laminectomy surgery had to be told.

He derobed.

And met the officials.

There was an order from the Governor of the state to lock down the hospital immediately to prevent further spread.

Alh BZ was whisked away to a quarantine centre outskirt of the state.

We were placed on isolation too in our hospital facility.

Samples were taken from our staff for covid-19 testing.

For many days, we could not physically reach our families or anyone.

Isolated up in the hospital.

The waiting began.

Days rolled by.

Anxiety.

All thoughts crept in.

At some point, my boss and I told ourselves that if it’s either positive or negative, we will beat the disease.

Infact we told ourselves that “even if its death, so what !!! We will be dying while in service to humanity.”

When the days rolled by, we began to have some peace.

Infact we were playing Fela Anipolakuti’s music loudly.

Also had Gospel and several country music played.

For many days.

Then the tension began.

The result of our COVID-19 was to be released in a few more days.

The music volume daily became louder.

Phone calls and prayers from family and friends were enormous.

At last the result came out yesterday 15 April, 2020 w afternoon.

And it was NEGATIVE for all is us.

We are still waiting to be released from isolation.

Two Police vehicles have been in our gate since all these started.

They were excited yesterday when our result was released and found to be negative.

They are waiting for directives to let us go home.

We thank Almighty God for everything.

We will keep saving lives.

No matter the cost.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3148348168517981&substory_index=0&id=100000284858392

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