News Release

March 25, 2014
For immediate release

Statement from the Deputy Chief Public Health Officer

Saskatchewan Illness

Ottawa, ON

Last night, the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory confirmed that the patient in Saskatchewan does not have Ebola, Lassa, Marburg or Crimean Congo virus. Testing continues to diagnose the patient’s illness.

The risk to Canadians remains very low. In addition, the ruling out of those four hemorrhagic viruses significantly reduces the risk to the people who have been in close contact with the patient while the patient has exhibited symptoms.

To be clear, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola or any other hemorrhagic viruses in Canada. In fact, there has never been a confirmed case of a hemorrhagic virus in this country.

If a case were ever confirmed in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada would alert Canadians immediately and put measures in place to protect the public.

Thank you

Contacts

Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 957-2983