Suspected Ebola patient in Kenya tests negative

Kenya's health officials confirmed Saturday a man who had been put in isolation with fever had tested negative for the deadly tropical disease Ebola.

Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Nicholas Muraguri told Xinhua by telephone that the passenger from Entebbe, Uganda en route to DR Congo who had been isolated earlier at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) tested negative after intensive screening.

The passenger was the first to be tested in Kenya in the current outbreak which has sent panic across Africa after its outbreak in West Africa region has left more than 900 people dead.

Muraguri said screening points have been set up at all ports of entry into Kenya, adding that the ministry has established a Disease Surveillance and Rapid Response team and laboratory capacity to diagnose all hemorrhagic fevers including Ebola.

"We are, therefore, well prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of Ebola within 24 hours," Muraguri said.