Guinea: I Caught Ebola and Survived

By Saa Saba Temessadounou

Gueckedou, Guinea — I got Ebola because I went near an old man who was ill, and at that time, we didn't know what we had to do [to avoid Ebola].
It was only afterwards that the authorities told us that if we felt ill within 21 days, to go and see them.
When I developed a very high fever of 39 degrees I realised that something was wrong. The fever was very high, and I went straight away to the medical centre.
I was afraid! We'd been told that the illness ravaging our communities was a virus called Ebola, and that there were many who died from it. So really, I was so frightened.
I didn't have the time to
warn people at home. I went straight to the hospital.
In the medical centre, the first room was called Salle A, which they dedicate to suspected cases. I talked to some people and we said to each other, 'well, we don't know, is it Ebola or not?'.
After that, it was the laboratory. Once they confirmed Ebola, they put me in Salle B, which is where they started to take care of me.
Everything was at my disposal. They gave me free treatments, free food, free clothes; everything I needed. When I got Ebola the first thing I worried about was how my relatives were going to bring me some food. But the nurses said to me, 'no stay here and we will take care of you'.
The first symptom was an intermittent fever, varying from 39.7 down to 38 degrees. I began to have diarrhea that was like dysentery which went on for three or four days. After that, coughing for four days.
When for the third day there was nothing but coughing, I thought about death. They placed me on an infusion because I couldn't drink, and it was then that I thought about death.
Being treated by doctors in plastic suits is frightening. I remember it well. When I was in that room, Salle B, there was a woman who even dared to ask one of the doctors a question - 'but you there, who are you, you give us medicines, but we can't even see your face!'.
When I was admitted to Salle B, my family was put in quarantine for 21 days. They told me that every time the health workers came to take their temperature and all the rest, the other families in the surrounding area made a fuss and stayed within their families.
Gradually I started to get better. It was when the antibodies started to form that my temperature went down progressively. When it reached 37 degrees, they did more tests. The test was negative, so they said, 'ah, there are already antibodies forming'. That's how they knew I was going to get better.
They kept me under observation for four days, and they gave me medicines, but I noticed that there weren't as many pills. Then there were more tests, and they said I was no longer ill - my fever had gone and my temperature was 36 degrees. Until now, I have not had a sign of fever and my temperature is no more than 36.10.
I felt an extreme joy at walking out of there! A joy that I have honestly never felt before in my life! My friends told me I had cheated death. I had escaped death. Really, it was like rising from the dead, and really, I felt an extreme joy. I would like to say - humbled.
Now I talk to the public to go against all the rumours that no one recovers from Ebola, that the doctors want to take your body parts, and all that. The other survivors and I go on the radio and broadcast about our experiences, so that people know you can survive the virus.
I tell people that Ebola, yes, it exists, and yes, it can be cured.
Mr Saa Saba Temessadounou is working with Plan Guinea to raise awareness about Ebola. Translated from the original interview in French. Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.