Peacefmonline.com can confirm that laboratory results of an unnamed passenger from Ghana top Minnesota, who was tested for Ebola, after showing symptoms similar to the haemorrhagic fever, is negative.
Earlier reports indicated the patient came to Minnesota from Ghana and developed symptoms �of concern.�
What was however unclear is whether the person in question is a Ghanaian or of other nationality.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday reconvened a group that's focused on Minnesota's Ebola prevention and response efforts. The closed-door meeting included members of the governor's cabinet, Sen. Al Franken, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Keith Ellison and Minneapolis airport officials.
One person tested for Ebola (negative)
Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger said one person has been tested for Ebola in Minnesota, but the results were negative. The patient came to Minnesota from Ghana and developed symptoms �of concern.� Ehlinger said the patient's symptoms didn't meet the CDC protocol for Ebola testing, but the state proceeded with a confirmation test on Oct. 16 as a precaution.
Learning from Dallas
Ehlinger said the health department is working �as rapidly as we can� with hospitals to come up with a Center for Excellence to deal with any future Ebola cases in Minnesota.
Gov. Dayton said Minnesota has learned valuable lessons from what happened in Dallas � specifically that health care workers are at the greatest risk of getting sick with Ebola.
Airport screening
There are no direct flights from West Africa to Minneapolis, but state officials want another preventative filter in place, considering Minnesota is home to a large number of West African immigrants.
�Minnesota has been preparing for this for quite some time because of our large Liberian population,� Sen. Franken said.
The Ebola virus has killed 4,546 people since the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever began in March, according to a report on Friday from the World Health Organisation.
The worst-hit countries have been Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
There have been 8,914 cases overall, including the fatal cases, and the WHO says it expects this number to top 9,000 by the end of the week.
Source: Peacefmonline.com with additional files from Fox News
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