An Ebola Virus test carried out after the death of a female passenger that arrived in the UK from Gambia has come out negative, the UK Department of Health said on Monday.
The passenger’s symptoms had not suggested she was an Ebola victim until the test was carried out because she had travelled from West Africa.
Over 728 people died of Ebola in different countries such as, Guniea, Liberia and Sierra Leone this year, in the worst-ever outbreak disease.
The Department for Health said the test on the elderly woman, who landed at Gatwick Airport, came back negative on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Public Health office in England, the risk to UK remains very low.
Ebola virus spreads through human contact with a sufferer’s bodily fluids.
The symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. The current mortality rate is about 55%.
The Director of Global Public Health at Public Health England (PHE), Dr Brian McCloskey, said: “There was no health risk to other passengers or crew, as the passenger did not have symptoms during the flight.
“It was considered very unlikely to be a case of Ebola but testing was done as a precaution, and was negative.
“The correct procedures were followed to confirm there was no reason to quarantine the airplane, the passengers or staff. PHE can confirm there was no public health risk around the sad death of this individual.”
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, said the government is taking the outbreak, and the threat to the UK, “very seriously”.
The Ministers, have discussed what precautionary measures could be taken if any UK nationals in West Africa becomes infected with Ebola.