Sydney, A 25-year-old Australian man feared to have contracted Ebola disease has tested negative for the deadly virus.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said tests taken from the man, who sparked an Ebola scare on the Gold Coast, has returned a negative result, the Brisbane Times reported.
“I would like to thank all health and ambulance staff involved in the management of this patient,” Dr Young was quoted as as saying.
“It was a job well done and serves to show the community that our emergency preparedness plans are sound, and that they can rely on their health services.
According to an earlier report, the man, who fell seriously ill after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland at about 7:40 a.m. Thursday by paramedics wearing full protective gear.
Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service acting chief executive, Damian Green confirmed in a statement that the man was placed in isolation at the hospital.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola epidemic in west Africa has claimed nearly 2,300 lives, where nearly half died in less than a month.
(With Agency Inputs)