The Ministry of Health and Interior Health are confirming that
preliminary testing on a health-care worker returning from West Africa
has come back negative for Ebola virus disease (EVD).

In keeping with provincial protocols, public health officials have asked
the patient to remain within two hours of a designated type two facility
– in this case Kelowna General Hospital – for the duration of the 21-day
self-monitoring period.

On Sunday evening, the patient began to experience mild influenza-like
illness, and reported those symptoms to the medical health officer.
Working with provincial public health specialists, and out of an
abundance of caution, Interior Health asked the patient to come into
Kelowna General Hospital to get tested. While there, the patient is being
cared for in an isolation room, away from other patients or staff.

Early testing is negative for Ebola and all signs point to this being a
case of the flu or a similar illness – influenza is currently circulating
widely in the community. However, given travel and work history, public
health is following all the standard precautionary procedures, to ensure
that they do not have Ebola.

Additional testing will take place over the next day or two to confirm
results of early testing. The patient will remain in isolation in
hospital during this time.

The risk to the public remains extremely low. Health-care workers at
Kelowna General Hospital have been trained on Ebola protocols and
procedures, and the facility is fully prepared to manage this patient.