A Gold Coast man is being tested for the Ebola virus in a hospital isolation ward after telling authorities he was feeling unwell and had recently returned from Africa.

UPDATE: Queensland Health have confirmed the 27-year-old has tested negative to the Ebola virus.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has tonight confirmed tests taken from a Gold Coast man suspected of having Ebola virus have returned a negative result.

It follows comments from doctors earlier in the day that the patient was exceedingly unlikely to have the disease based on his symptoms and the areas in Africa in which he travelled to.

“I would like to thank all health and ambulance staff involved in the management of this patient; it was a job well done and serves to show the community that our emergency preparedness plans are sound, and that they can rely on their health services,” Dr Young said.

“I also thank the media for helping to allay the fears and hype in the community — it was a very important message for us to convey.”

Dr Young said while it was highly unlikely Ebola virus would come to Queensland, anyone who has travelled to parts of West Africa affected by the outbreak and who are concerned about their health, should visit their GP.

Dr Young said the treating team at the Gold Coast University Hospital would ultimately determine the patient’s treatment options based on the results and his current condition.

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EARLIER: A MAN who was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital and isolated amid fears of Ebola virus this morning is ‘not particularly sick’, doctors say.

The man, Michael Walsh originally from Warwick in WA, reportedly fell seriously ill in the Southport Watchhouse and told emergency crews he had just returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo two weeks ago.

Police sources confirmed a 27-year-old man was taken by ambulance with Ebola-like symptoms however Gold Coast Health infectious diseases director Dr John Gerrard said initial assessments suggest it is ‘exceedingly unlikely’ that he has the deadly virus.

They are still awaiting test results but said the man was also being tested for malaria, dengue fever and other tropical illnesses.

Dr Gerrard said the main symptom of Ebola was a fever and although the patient described symptoms of fever, doctors were yet to document one.News_Image_File: A man suspected of having the Ebola virus arrives at the Emergency department of the Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

“He’s not particularly sick but I don’t want to say it’s impossible otherwise we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing,” he said.

“I really must emphasise the risk is extremely small.”News_Rich_Media: The Gold Coast Hospital says the initial clinical assessment of a patient suggests it is exceedingly unlikely he has Ebola.

He said the man was more likely to have malaria and expected results this evening.

The family of Michael Walsh said they “didn’t know” whether he had been cleared of the deadly virus.

But his mother Christine said she was ‘not anxious’ and that he worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is understood he was holidaying on the Gold Coast and lives in NSW.

The man had been arrested at Chevron Renaissance, in the heart of the Surfers Paradise tourist precinct, for trespass overnight.

It is believed when he was being bailed this morning he told officers he felt sick, and as a precaution paramedics were called.

It was then discovered he had recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was immediately taken to hospital where he was put in an isolated single negative pressure room.

Police are waiting on further advice from health authorities on the risk.News_Image_File: Dr John Gerrard addresses the media outside the Gold Coast University Hospital regarding a suspected Ebola scare. Pic: Glenn Hampson

Gold Coast police Chief Superintendent Des Lacy said the man had been in a cell by himself but watch-house staff had been ‘protectively cleansed’ as a precaution.

“At this stage, there is absolutely no confirmation that he has Ebola and we have been told there’s a very low-risk chance he has,” Supt Lacy said.

Gold Coast doctor says suspected Ebola case chances are "vanishingly small". They're waiting for test results. @GCBulletin — Shaya Laughlin (@shayalaughlin) September 11, 2014

Gold Coast Airport is waiting for confirmation from the hospital before putting safety precautions in place.

The largest Ebola outbreak in history has ripped through Africa with 2,296 confirmed deaths from the virus. Thirteen people have died in The Democratic Republic of Congo up to August 25.

Paramedics were instructed to suit up in protective clothing before taking the man to hospital.

Gold Coast Health acting chief executive Damian Green said the patient had been identified by paramedics as ‘having symptoms of Ebola’ and he had been placed in isolation.News_Image_File: A man suspected of having the Ebola virus arrives at the Emergency department of the Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Gold Coast Health is taking necessary precautions and has isolated the patient who is currently being assessed,” he said.

“Gold Coast Health has processes in place to manage such circumstances.

“Universal infection control procedures are in place and there is limited risk to patients and staff.

“Further information will be provided as clinical assessments are completed.”

A Gold Coast University Hospital spokeswoman added: ‘’Going by what the WHO (World Health Organisation) has been saying, we have recently done a review and we have an area within the hospital where the patient can be isolated.”

The man is yet to be confirmed with Ebola virus. Gold Coast residents are advised to remain calm.News_Image_File: Paramedics rush a man into Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

The news follows revelations the British nurse who survived the deadly Ebola virus last month plans to return to Africa to continue treating patients.

William Pooley, who had worked as a nurse treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, was flown back to Britain on August 24 on a specially-equipped British military plane.News_Image_File: A man suspected of having the Ebola virus arrives at the Emergency department of the Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

The 29-year-old survived the virus after a successful treatment at the UK’s Royal Free Hospital.

The World Health Organisation has issued a terrifying warning that Ebola will claim 20,000 lives within the next six months.

The virus, which is spiralling out of control in Western Africa, has already claimed 2300 lives, the international health body reports. More than half of that figure have died in the past 21 days alone.

News_Module: NN-EbolaWhy

Originating in Guinea earlier this year, more than 4200 people have since been sickened in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal.

The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest in history and the first in west Africa.

The current outbreak is affecting multiple countries and has sparked many travel warnings.News_Rich_Media: When it comes to surviving one of the world's deadliest diseases, there are few options and no guarantees

The United States is currently working on a vaccine for the highly contagious virus which is transmitted via bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, tears and saliva.

There is no specific treatment for Ebola at this stage, patients can only be given pain relief, fluids to keep them comfortable and treatment for secondary infections.

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the fatality rate for Ebola can be as high as 90 per cent.

News_Rich_Media: Ebola 'may take six months to control'

Ebola is a severe acute viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus.

News_Module: NN-Ebola

Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory.

The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days