Nurse Andrea Chapman, pictured with her husband Chris Chapman, is being tested for Ebola as a precaution.

A Nelson nurse is being tested for Ebola in Wellington after developing symptoms since returning from West Africa.

Andrea Chapman returned from Sierra Leone on Saturday after two months in the West African country.

She is now in an isolation unit on the fifth floor of Wellington Hospital, where she can be visited only by specially trained nurses and doctors from the Ebola first response team, wearing full-body protective equipment, including triple-layered gloves and face shields.

FAIRFAX NZ Wellington Hospital, where the patient is being tested.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman confirmed she was being tested to rule out the presence of the virus, with a full-scale containment operation swinging into action at Wellington hospital.

"The patient has recently been in Sierra Leone as part of New Zealand's contribution to the international response to Ebola," he said.

"There is no risk to public health and it is very unlikely the person has Ebola."

Chapman's husband, Chris, said taking her to Wellington for tests was "just precautionary". "They said it would be a good idea to do it, to check it out.

"She's well, there's nothing wrong with her at all."

She had not been isolated in Nelson, and health officials had no concerns about him being in contact with her all week, he said.

"I know full well everything that's going on, and I know the risks involved in catching anything nasty there [in Sierra Leone] and the risk of catching Ebola is down the list."

Coleman confirmed Chapman was one of seven health workers sent by the Government to work at an Australian-managed Ebola Treatment Centre at Hastings Airfield in Sierra Leone. The centre is scheduled to close at the end of this month, as the prevalence of the deadly disease there has dropped.

Chapman had been monitoring her health since her return. She went to sleep feeling mildly ill on Tuesday night, and immediately reported to the local public officer of health when she awoke the next morning still feeling unwell.

She was then monitored overnight and flown to Wellington Hospital on Thursday morning.

"They are low-key symptoms that could be attributable to a range of minor illnesses," Coleman said.

READ MORE:

* Patient isolated for Ebola tests

* Ebola care nurse tests negative

* Could Ebola reach New Zealand?

* Three kept on Ebola watch in NZ

The only other person who had been in contact with her since her return was her husband, who was in isolation at home and was also self-monitoring for symptoms, the minister said.

Chris Chapman said: "The biggest thing is people don't know what it's all about, they don't understand it and they think the worst and it isn't the worst.

"People need to educate themselves. It's not easy to catch."

His wife was a "kind" woman and had also worked with rural aboriginal communities in Australia.

"She's a very dedicated and caring person. There's risk with anything," he said.

"It's something she wants to do. God bless her, she's good."

He had not spoken to her since she was flown to Wellington, but expected to talk to her on Thursday evening.

Samples of her blood have been taken and sent to Melbourne for testing, with results expected in 24 to 48 hours. If that test is negative, a second will be done to make sure.

Coleman said all seven health workers were now back in New Zealand, with three still self-monitoring for symptoms.

Earlier Red Cross contingents of volunteers who travelled to West Africa to treat Ebola spent about three weeks in quarantine in a third country before returning to New Zealand.

Coleman confirmed the latest Government-backed contingent had travelled from Sierra Leone straight home to New Zealand, skipping the quarantine, which he said was now accepted international practice.

"No corners are being cut."

Wellington Hospital has been training for how to deal with suspected Ebola patients for more than six months. After being flown in, Chapman would have been wheeled down a sealed-off corridor into the isolation unit on the fifth floor.

The unit has 500 protective outfits for handling Ebola, all of which would be used only once for a few hours, before being destroyed.

It takes about 10 nurses and four doctors to care for just one patient.

In March, another health worker, Gore-based nurse Bronni McBain, was rushed to Christchurch Hospital to be tested for the virus. She tested negative.

She said on Thursday evening that she had contacted Chapman to offer her best wishes. "She's a friend and a colleague and I'll be there to support her in any way she needs support if she wants it."

McBain was flown to Christchurch Hospital after contracting a high fever on March 13, which turned out to be from a stomach bug. She had previously volunteered for eight weeks treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.

Grant Pidgeon, Capital & Coast District Health Board's deputy chief medical officer, said the length of time Chapman would

spend in isolation would depend on test results and clinical assessment.

"Ebola virus disease is not easy to catch; you cannot catch it by being in the same hospital, or the same ward as a person with suspected Ebola. Patients and visitors should continue to visit Wellington Hospital as usual."