Zimbabwe patient tests negative for Ebola

"We got the results yesterday (Tuesday) from South Africa and she tested negative for Ebola," said Prosper Chonzi, Harare municipality director of health services.

 

"Wilkins hospital has been opened and we have resumed our normal operations."

 

Health authorities shut down the 35-bed hospital in the capital Harare last week to isolate the suspected Ebola case. Other patients in the hospital were transferred to alternative health facilities.

 

Specimens taken from the patient, whose nationality and identity were not disclosed, had been sent to a laboratory in neighbouring South Africa.

 

The hemorrhagic virus has killed more than 4,400 people across West Africa since the beginning of this year, in the world's largest outbreak to date.

 

Zimbabwe has not recorded any cases, but health authorities are testing incoming travellers at airports.-AFP

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)