Hospital partially closes amid concerns that a patient with a travel history to Africa was developing early symptoms of Ebola
Health officials are investigating a potential Ebola case in Colchester, after a patient with suspected symptoms returned to Britain from Africa, where a strain of the deadly virus is circulating in Uganda.
On Wednesday, part of Colchester Hospital in Essex was closed to new patients amid concerns that a patient with a travel history to Africa was developing early symptoms of Ebola, a deadly hemorrhagic fever.
The Telegraph understands that officials at the UK Health Security Agency are testing the patient for a range of diseases as part of routine infection control protocol that kicks in when suspected cases emerge in travellers.
In early October, the UK Government told doctors to be on high alert for potential symptoms and to stock up on personal protective equipment in case Ebola was exported to Britain, though they said the risk to the public was “very low”.