One person who recently returned to Ontario from East Africa is being tested for the Ebola virus, the province says.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health said the person is currently in the hospital.
“Out of an abundance of caution, clinicians are testing the patient for a range of possible infectious diseases, including Ebola virus, given their recent travel history, in accordance with established clinical protocols. All appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place,” the statement notes.
The spokesperson added that there are no current confirmed cases of Ebola in the province.
It is unclear when the person came back to Canada and what symptoms they are experiencing.
The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has resulted in at least 134 deaths and more than 500 suspected cases.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, an Ebola strain that has no approved vaccine.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern over the weekend. Officials are worried about the scale and speed of the outbreak.
The disease is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids or tissues of an infected person or animal experiencing symptoms. Officials noted that it is not spread through air or casual contact.
Global Affairs Canada said it was not aware of any Canadians in Congo and Uganda who are affected by the Ebola outbreak. About 3,600 Canadians are registered as being in the two African countries.
The federal government has advised Canadians not to travel to the eastern Ituri and North Kivu provinces of Congo.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
