Man Who Arrived in Japan with Fever Tests Negative for Ebola

Tokyo, Oct. 28 (Jiji Press)--A man who arrived at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda on Monday with a fever in a suspected Ebola case has tested negative for the deadly disease, the Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Tuesday. No Ebola virus was found in blood and other samples taken from the man as a result of a genetic test conducted at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the ministry said. The man has had no contact with Ebola patients, the ministry said, adding that his fever has already gone down. The man, in his 40s, is a journalist and came to Japan via such countries as Belgium and Britain after staying in Liberia, one of the West African nations hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, since August, according to Japanese government officials. The man arrived at Haneda on Monday afternoon, according to the health ministry. He underwent a medical check by a doctor as he had a fever of 37.8 degrees Celsius. The man was then transported to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward due to his possible infection with Ebola, and his blood and other samples were sent to the NIID for a genetic test. Although the test cleared the man of Ebola, he will remain under observation at the Shinjuku hospital for about three days because the virus may not be detected in the early stage of infection, the ministry said. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki will report the case to a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning. END