Preliminary tests on a Canberra health care worker who had returned from West Africa suggest she does not have Ebola.
The woman was admitted to Canberra Hospital last night after experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms and a fever.
The woman was placed in isolation as a precaution, and her family was advised to stay at home while tests were carried out.
Acting ACT Chief Health Officer Andrew Pengilley said the woman had been working in Liberia which was well away from Ebola hot spots in Sierra Leone.
“It has always been very unlikely that this person had Ebola,” he said.
“We’ve been following a precautionary protocol like all the states and territories have, to be absolutely sure that the public is safe from the very low risk of people returning from West Africa with the disease.
“It has always been much more likely that it is another condition, and that’s really good news.”
Overnight her condition improved and the first of two tests has returned a negative result for the Ebola virus.
Further testing is planned this week and she will remain in isolation until the second test is completed.
So far there have been no cases of Ebola virus detected in Australia.