Hoskins: Our system worked as it should

August 10, 2014

Today Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, issued the following statement on a patient testing negative for Ebola Virus Disease in Ontario: 

I can now confirm a recent case that underwent testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg was found to test negative for Ebola virus disease.

Brampton Civic Hospital tested a patient who recently travelled to Canada from West Africa and presented with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain and malaise. 

This was done as a precautionary measure.

Initial signs and symptoms of Ebola are similar to many more common diseases and health care providers have been advised to be on heightened alert for Ebola cases. 

Health professionals responded to the alert appropriately, by identifying an individual who potentially may have been affected, taking enhanced infection-prevention precautions, and testing. 

Our system worked as it should.

We are glad to hear that the patient is doing well, and wish him a full and speedy recovery.

I would like to thank all of the health care workers and public health officials involved in the case for their tireless work.

Ontarians should know that we are fully prepared should any cases appear in the province.

This situation was the result of all our protocols working effectively.

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