Preliminary tests come back negative on Conn. patient with Ebola-like symptoms
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WABC) -- Preliminary test results on a patient at Yale-New Haven Hospital have come back negative for Ebola, a state official said.
A patient was admitted Thursday with Ebola-like symptoms, and is listed in stable condition.
Gov. Dannel Malloy had said earlier that if the first test proved negative, there would be no need for a second test.
But out of an abundance of caution, a second test is being done.
The patient is a Yale University student, one of two who returned last week from Liberia, where they spent a month researching Ebola.
The patient had been monitored by a physician for the past few days, officials said. He developed a fever, contacted the doctor and then went to the hospital.
Officials said the student did not have contact with Ebola patients while in Liberia. The other student is being monitored. Names of the students were not released.
The researchers told officials that while in West Africa and here at home, they have carefully followed recommended travel and hygiene precautions.
Yale-New Haven Hospital said it will continue to monitor the patient in a safe way that will not impact any other patients in the hospital.
Hospital officials say the patient is isolated in a negative pressure room, where air is not circulated throughout the rest of the building.
A specimen was rushed to a lab in Boston Thursday morning.
New Haven Mayor Toni Harp stressed it seemed unlikely that the patient has Ebola.
"It was a perfectly executed plan, and I believe that while we recognize that this is a suspected case, we don't believe it will turn out to be an Ebola case," Hart said.
Yale President Peter Salovey released the following message to the Yale community:
I am relieved that Yale-New Haven Hospital has reported that the doctoral student we told you about this morning has tested negative for the Ebola virus. Nonetheless, this student and the other doctoral student who traveled to Liberia will be quarantined for 21 days from their return, as required by the State of Connecticut.
I want to offer my continuing gratitude to everyone at Yale, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and the city, state, and federal governments who have had a role in caring for these students in recent days. Ebola remains a serious concern for all of us. We will continue to provide information to you as we receive it from emergency management, health professionals, and government health agencies. I join with all of the Yale community in the fervent hope that more good news will be forthcoming.
