Patient tested for ebola in Edinburgh

A woman was last night undergoing hospital tests after returning from ebola-hit West Africa.

The patient is being screened for infection at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital after being admitted to the infectious diseases unit after reporting a raised temperature.

Melanie Johnson, director of unscheduled care at the Lothian health board, said: “

As a precautionary measure, and in line with agreed procedures, the patient will be screened for possible infections and will be kept in isolation. We have robust systems in place.”

Public Health England added: “It is important to remember that the infection can only be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids — such as blood, vomit, or faeces — of an infected person.

“We have advised all front-line medical practitioners and NHS call handlers to be alert to signs and symptoms of Ebola in those returning from affected areas and following such advice we would expect to see an increase in testing.”

The suspected Ebola case in Edinburgh comes around 24 hours after Northampton General Hospital said it was treating a possible case.

The hospital has since confirmed that the female patient, who has a history of travel to West Africa, tested negative for the deadly virus.