Suspected Ebola case at Montreal hospital turns out to be a false alarm

Suspected Ebola case at Montreal hospital turns out to be a false alarm

Hospital has lifted emergency isolation protocols

A Montreal hospital has lifted emergency isolation measures after a suspected Ebola case was determined to be a false alarm, officials said.

The female patient arrived at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) late Thursday afternoon exhibiting signs of the deadly disease.

Earlier in the day, Irène Marcheterre, a spokesperson for the CHUM, said that as soon as the suspicious symptoms were identified, the hospital immediately enacted its required isolation protocols.

She said all necessary safety measures were put in place, and insisted there was no risk to the public.Just before 8 p.m., another spokesperson, Ellen Caracas, told CBC News that the patient tested negative for Ebola and emergency protocols were lifted.

Schools reopen despite concerns amid Congo's Ebola outbreak

The suspected case came amid an ongoing and deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where thousands have died in recent months.

Marcheterre could not confirm whether the patient had recently travelled from the region, stating she did not know the woman's travel history.

Written by Isaac Olson, with files from Jennifer Yoon