Providence Hospital

Providence Hospital

(Michael Finch II/mfinch@al.com)

MOBILE, Alabama -- Doctors at Providence Hospital have cleared a patient who appeared to be suffering from symptoms of Ebola on Friday afternoon.

Michael King, director of planning and marketing for the Providence Health System, said the patient was kept in strict isolation while doctors and nurses collected a medical history and preformed laboratory tests.

"Based on all the initial results and the patient's history, ADPH (Alabama Department of Public Health) has concluded that the patient is not at risk of Ebola infection," King said.

Citing privacy regulations, he declined to share additional information on the patient or the circumstances which led authorities to believe the patient had contracted Ebola.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, hospital officials released a statement informing the public of the possible public health risk and emphasizing that the case carried only a low-level risk.

"In an abundance of caution, we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols," hospital officials said in the statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ADPH helped guide Providence Hospital personnel during the laboratory tests, King said.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of our medical team and associates, who handled this situation with professionalism and compassion," he said.

News of the possible Ebola case came down exactly one month after another patient arrived at the University of South Alabama Medical Center suffering from apparent Ebola symptoms.

Health officials determined that patient did not have Ebola.