UK investigates possible Ebola case — first since 2014

Health officials in the United Kingdom say they are investigating a possible case of Ebola.

Emergency measures were implemented on Wednesday at Colchester Hospital in Essex to address an “infection control issue”.

Concerns were raised after a patient with travel history to Africa was developing early symptoms of Ebola — a deadly hemorrhagic fever.

Uganda is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak which has caused 141 cases and 55 deaths since September 20.

Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for Africa, had said the current outbreak is the first time in more than a decade that Uganda would record an outbreak of the Sudan ebolavirus.

Colchester Hospital said the patient is being tested for a number of viral haemorrhagic fevers, with results expected in the coming days.

“Thank you to all our patients and staff for their support yesterday afternoon when we had to temporarily close one clinical area at Colchester Hospital, the urgent treatment centre, to new patients. This was because of an infection control issue. The centre is now fully open,” the hospital said. 

If confirmed, this would be the first Ebola case detected in Britain since 2014.

In early October, the UK government told doctors to be on high alert for potential symptoms and to stock up on personal protective equipment (PPE) in case Ebola was exported to the country.