A patient at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast who recently travelled to an Ebola hit area is being tested for the virus.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed that a person is being assessed in accordance with the agreed risk assessment.

A BBC report said they understood that the patient has been held in a special isolation unit since Friday.

The patient being treated has already tested positive for Malaria, and an Ebola test is being carried out as a precautionary measure.

In a statement issued on Sunday the PHA said it was liaising with colleagues and has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community.

''It is important to note that the likelihood of contracting Ebola is extremely low unless the person had come into contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic person. Therefore we would like to stress that the risk to the public is low,'' they said.

They added: ''There is no change to the current situation in Northern Ireland in that the risk to the public here is very low.''

A further update will be given when results are available.

Belfast Telegraph