Hospital: Suspected Ebola Patient Tests Negative for Virus

The patient has, however, tested positive for malaria

Massachusetts General Hospital announced on Wednesday afternoon that a patient who had been suspected of having Ebola has tested negative for the virus.

The initial test on the patient admitted Tuesday with suspected Ebola came back negative, the hospital said in a statement. The patient has, however, tested positive for malaria. Further testing is needed to definitively rule out Ebola.

Dr. David Hooper, chief of Massachusetts General Hospital's Infection Control Unit, spoke Wednesday afternoon. He said the male patient's symptoms qualified him as a low risk patient for the Ebola virus by the CDC. 

"The patient had been undergoing routine monitoring by the Boston Public Health Commission after previously working in Liberia in a non-medical capacity," the hospital said in a statement Wednesday. "In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and out of an abundance of caution for our patients, their families and our staff, the hospital is continuing to follow the highest possible safety precautions."

The hospital said the patient is in good spirits and remains in a specially prepared isolated area. Dr. Hooper added it will take another two to three days to completely rule that the patient does not have Ebola, although he believes it is unlikely that further testing will come back positive.

"I think we can say safely that there is no risk from this case to the public, certainly not from malaria, and even if this were to be Ebola, not from that either," Dr. Hooper explained. 

The patient, who was admitted to the hospital for evaluation at 2 p.m. Tuesday, will remain in the isolated area at MGH until all CDC protocols have been met. The hospital hasn't released any details on the patient's age or where he is from.

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