Health Minister on possible Ebola case in Ontario

STATEMENT ONTARIO MINISTER OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE ERIC HOSKINS ************************* Statement by Ontario Health Minister on a patient being tested For Ebola virus disease in Ontario (August 8, 2014) - Today Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health

STATEMENT

ONTARIO MINISTER OF HEALTH AND

LONG-TERM CARE ERIC HOSKINS

*************************

Statement by Ontario Health Minister on a patient being tested For Ebola virus disease in Ontario

(August 8, 2014) - Today Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, issued the following statement on a patient being tested for Ebola Virus Disease in Ontario:

The health and safety of all Ontarians is my top priority.

I have been closely monitoring the situation in West Africa since this outbreak began and I know that health professionals in Ontario have been alert to possible cases of Ebola in patients who have been traveling in affected regions.

I am aware that we are currently testing a patient who recently travelled from West Africa.

Initial signs and symptoms of Ebola are similar to many more common diseases. One such disease relevant to African travel is malaria.

There are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in Ontario.

I am in close contact with our Chief Medical Officer of Health, and we are working with our health system partners to monitor and manage the situation.

From the beginning of the outbreak in West Africa we have taken steps to ensure our health system is prepared should a returning traveler be suspected of having the disease.

With the experience and lessons learned from the SARS epidemic, our hospitals have sophisticated infection control systems and procedures to protect health providers, patients, and all Ontarians, and are fully equipped to deal with any potential cases of Ebola.

As Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and as a public health doctor with many years' experience working with infectious diseases in Africa, I am confident that Ontario is prepared and ready to contain and treat any potential case of Ebola in our province.

I will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide regular updates.

*************************