Ebola virus by NIAID via FlickrEbola virus by NIAID via Flickr
London

UPDATE: Preliminary Tests Negative For Ebola

Health officials say the two suspected Ebola patients in London have tested negative for the deadly virus.

The pair, who remain in isolation, arrived at Victoria Hospital around 9:45pm last night and were immediately placed in isolation.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit says the negative blood tests results are good news, but these tests are only preliminary and more will be done in the coming days.

“This is encouraging news, yet we will remain vigilant as we and our partners continue to monitor this situation very closely,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “There are other potential reasons for the symptoms we’re seeing, but until ebola can be ruled out completely, the protocols and precautions currently in place at Victoria Hospital will continue.”

Both the patients had spent time in a refugee camp in Guinea before coming to the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

The London Health Science Centre is one of the province's designated treatment hospitals for Ebola.

LHSC reports there will be no effect on patient or visitor activity. The risk to the community is said to be low because patients do not become infectious until they are very ill.

For more information on the hospital's Ebola preparedness, click HERE.

- with files from Lisa Brandt 

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