Suspected ebola case in Wales

UK:  Doctors in Cardiff are testing a patient for Ebola following a suspected case of the deadly virus, authorities have confirmed.

The individual, understood to be from Barry, South Wales, is being tested by medical experts in Cardiff.

The test results are expected on Wednesday, Wales Online reports.

Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales can confirm that an individual with a history of travel to West Africa has been admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to be tested for Ebola.

“Based on our established evidence-based risk assessment protocol we are confident that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure there is no risk to public health.

 “It is important to remember that there has never been a case of Ebola diagnosed in Wales and the risk to the public is very low.

"The infection can only be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an unwell person who has Ebola.

“We have advised all frontline medical practitioners dealing with patients to be alert to signs and symptoms of Ebola in those returning from affected areas.

“Should there be a positive case in Wales this information will be made available to the public.”

The deadly Ebola virus arrived in the UK in December last year, with a female nurse testing positive for the potentially-fatal disease after returning from Sierra Leone.

Ms Cafferkey, an associate public health nurse nurse who normally works at the Blantyre Health Centre in South Lanarkshire, had been working in the dangerous “red zone” near Freetown in Sierra Leone.

She was transferred to a specialist treatment centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on December 30 after returning however.

On January 24, she was declared to be free of infection, and was released from hospital.