WITH tests now underway, Ebola is said to be a “very unlikely” cause of the illness that has put a patient in isolation at Hereford County Hospital.

The patient presented at Hereford’s GP Walk In Centre yesterday afternoon with symptoms that saw the centre shut down.

This morning, Public Health England (PHE) confirmed samples from the patient – transferred to the county hospital under infection control yesterday evening – were now subject to precautionary testing for Ebola and other conditions.

The trust says all its clinics are running and all scheduled operations are going ahead as normal.

“All appropriate actions have been taken and there is absolutely no risk to public health,” said Richard Beeken, chief executive at the Trust.

“The patient is in an isolation unit and as far as our patients are concerned, it’s business as usual,” he said.

In a statement, PHE said: “Ebola is considered very unlikely but testing is being done as a precaution. Based on the evidence-based risk assessment protocol, we are confident that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure there is no risk to public health.”

The walk-in centre was shut down over yesterday afternoon and evening after the patient  with a history of travel to West Africa presented with what were described as “potentially contagious symptoms” including diarrhoea.

With the centre sealed to patients the man waited in isolation for a transfer to the County Hospital where he was assessed  and given preliminary treatment under standard infection control conditions.

Infection control teams were also at work at the walk-in centre over the evening.

As yet, Ebola has not been diagnosed in the UK and the infection can only be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids - such as blood, vomit or faeces - of an infected person.

All front line medical practitioners dealing with patients have been notified of a need to be alert to signs and symptoms of Ebola in those returning from affected areas, and to respond appropriately in line with national infection control guidelines.

The walk-in centre and its adjacent dental access centre reopened this morning.