UCD Medical Center Patient Suspected Of Having Ebola Tests Negative For Virus

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A UC Davis Medical Center patient suspected of having Ebola has tested negative for the virus.

State and local public health officials confirmed the patient who was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center on Thursday morning with symptoms of the disease and who traveled to the region of Ebola-affected Africa does not have the virus. The test results came back on Thursday night, according to a statement from the California Department of Public Health.

There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in California and there is no threat to the general public, say officials.

"We will continue to work together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with hospitals and local health departments across California to quickly identify individuals who could potentially be at risk of Ebola, and take quick action in order to protect the health and safety of all California residents," said California Department of Public Health State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Gil Chavez.

Security guards wearing masks patrolled the grounds of UC Davis Medical Center on Thursday as medical staff treated a patient with symptoms consistent with Ebola.

The patient first went to Mercy General, then was quickly transferred to UC Davis. Mercy closed its emergency room for hours, but other departments still saw patients.

"The patient remains in good condition and we will continue to provide ongoing medical care," said J. Douglas Kirk, Chief Medical Officer at UC Davis Medical Center.

No further information has been released about the patient.

Ebola symptoms may appear anywhere between two days to three weeks after exposure to the virus and include a fever, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and lack of appetite.