Tests on health-care worker come back negative for Ebola

NEWS/ HEALTH — The health-care worker who returned from Sierra Leone and has been at Kelowna General Hospital undergoing testing for Ebola virus disease (EVD) has had a second negative Ebola test.

Initial testing results that came back from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday (Dec. 30) were negative for EVD. A second test was done that day to confirm those results, said the Ministry of Health. That second test has now also come back negative for EVD.

A third and final test will also be done to ensure that there has been sufficient time for any potential circulating virus to reach detectable levels. Results from the third test are expected Thursday (Jan. 1).

“The third test is only being done out of an abundance of caution, given that the patient was so proactive in reporting her symptoms at such an early date,” a ministry release said.

The ministry said it doesn’t plan to formally release results “as they are also expected to be negative.”

The patient is a health-care worker who returned from treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone on Dec. 25. On Dec. 29 she had a slightly elevated temperature and was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. In keeping with provincial protocols, she immediately contacted the medical health officer (MHO).

After further consultation with the MHO and provincial public health officials, it was decided that she would come in to Interior Health’s designated type two facility, Kelowna General Hospital, for EVD testing.

“While all signs and symptoms were indicative of influenza or a similar respiratory illness, given the patient’s work and travel history, out of an abundance of caution, the patient was isolated and tested for EVD.”

This isn’t the first B.C. health-care worker to return from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. Returning workers are connected with public health and monitored for 21 days, during which time they are asked to remain within two hours of a provincial type two facility, and abstain from providing clinical care to patients.

Seven people including the patient at Kelowna General are undergoing the 21-day period of self-monitoring. A total of 16 people have returned from the affected countries since August.