Sacramento hospital patient tests negative for Ebola

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --  The California Department of Public Health announced Thursday that the tests results of a patient hospitalized in Sacramento are negative for Ebola.

“We are pleased with the negative outcome of the Ebola test and wish the patient a speedy recovery,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH Director and state health officer. “The case in Sacramento County demonstrates that the system is working. This patient was quickly identified, appropriate infection control procedures were implemented, and public health authorities were notified.”

The patient became ill with a fever after a trip to West Africa.  The patient was hospitalized in quarantine at the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, and the public health department said appropriate  protocols were followed.

The patient's blood was sent for testing earlier in the week to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.