The threat of Ebola led to the temporary closure of the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency department on Monday.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) took extraordinary precautions due to the threat of the deadly Ebola virus.

“We did have a patient there who gave a travel history and had a clinical condition that was suggestive that he might have Ebola but on further assessment we’ve ruled out Ebola,” said AHS senior medical officer of health, Dr. Gerry Predy.

“Any patients that were in the department at that time can be reassured that they are not at risk of getting Ebola or other infectious diseases.

“We apologize for patients for any disruption of service it any inconvenience.”

AHS took the steps of temporarily closing the Royal Alexandra’s emergency department to allow for appropriate cleaning and disinfection measures. The downtown ER was shut down about 6:30 a.m. and reopened about 11 a.m. Monday.

Initial Ebola symptoms include sudden fever, muscle pain, weakness, headaches, and sore throat. That is followed by vomiting, kidney and liver problems, diarrhea, and rashes.

“Ebola symptoms are not specific, especially in the initial stages, the symptoms can be similar to many other infectious diseases,” added Predy.

The heart of the Ebola outbreak is in West Africa. The outbreaks are Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

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The Public Health Agency of Canada on Ebola:

The current outbreak of Ebola is in Central and West Africa. There have not been any cases of Ebola in Canada.

The Ebola virus can spread through:

contact with infected animals

contact with blood, body fluids or tissues of infected persons

contact with medical equipment, such as needles, contaminated with infected body fluids

Exposure can occur in health care settings when staff do not wear appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, gowns and gloves.

As long as precautions are taken, there is low risk of contracting EVD in a country where the disease is present.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

*Case counts updated in conjunction with the World Health Organization updates and are based on information reported by the Ministries of Health.

Total Cases of Ebola:

As of September 14, 2014

(Updated September 18, 2014)

Total Case Count: 5347

Total Deaths: 2630

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 3095

Cases by Country

Guinea

Total Case Count: 942

Total Deaths: 601

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 750

Liberia

Total Case Count: 2710

Total Deaths: 1459

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 812

Nigeria

Total Case Count: 21

Total Case Deaths: 8

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 19

Senegal

Total Case Count: 1

Total Case Deaths: 0

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 1

Sierra Leone