Suspected Ebola case tests negative in Australia

Sydney, Sep 11: A 25-year-old man, who Thursday sparked an Ebola virus disease scare in the Australian state of Queensland, has tested negative for the deadly virus, a health official said.

Jeannette Young, chief health officer of Queensland, said tests taken from the man in Gold Coast had returned a negative result, the Brisbane Times reported.

A man who sparked an Ebola scare on the Gold Coast has tested negative for the deadly disease, Queensland's chief health officer has announced.

"I would like to thank all health and ambulance staff involved in the management of this patient," the reported quoted Young 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 Xinhua report, the man, who fell seriously ill after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland 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.

More than 2,200 people have died in an Ebola outbreak from more than 4,200 infections in the African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.

IANS