Ebola virus not detected in Myanmar's suspected patient

Myanmar Ministry of Health on Tuesday revealed that Ebola virus was not found in Myanmar's suspected patients, according to the results of a blood sample test conducted at a world-recognized laboratory in Hamburg, Germany.

Dr. Soe Lwin Nyein, Deputy Director General of the Ministry's Department of Health said that the blood samples of five suspected Myanmar citizens had been tested at the World Health Organization- approved laboratory in the European country.

The ministry added that the conditions of the patients are totally improving and they will be discharged from the hospital soon.

A Myanmar male citizen, aged 22, who has worked in two African countries, namely Guinea and Liberia, was found with fever when he arrived at the Yangon International Airport via Bangkok on Aug. 19. He was accompanied by four other close-contact persons who were also suspected of infecting with Ebola.

He was sent to an isolated ward of a hospital in the outskirts for further confirmation if he is really infected from the deadly disease, according to initial report.

Since discovery of Ebola disease in four western African countries, Myanmar has been taking preventive measures against the spread of the virus, cooperating with global countries, UN agencies, local and international non-governmental organizations and civil societies in the move.

Detection of the virus is being done at the airports and ports by using modern equipment and infection control programs are being carried out at the health care facilities.