A woman traveling to The Bahamas from the United States yesterday triggered the national preparedness protocol for Ebola after she displayed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on an aircraft, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
However, the woman subsequently tested negative for the fatal virus, according to officials.
In a statement titled "Ebola Press Release", the Ministry of Health said the woman was traveling on a chartered aircraft from Tennessee.
"As per the national preparedness protocol, the aircraft was diverted to the designated location," read the statement, though it did not detail that location or the final destination of the aircraft.
"A health evaluation team was transported to the aircraft and evaluated the patient.
"It was determined that the patient did not travel to an Ebola affected area, nor [did they have] any contact with anyone who had traveled to an Ebola affected area.
"There were no other passengers with any signs of illness upon evaluation.
"As there was no determined threat to the public's health, clearance was provided for the aircraft to proceed to its destination."
When contacted about the potential case, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin deferred questions to Peter Deveaux-Isaacs, the under secretary in the Ministry of Transport.
When asked, Deveaux-Isaacs, a member of the Ebola Task Force, confirmed the woman tested negatively for the Ebola virus.
"It was precautionary, and the person was immediately diagnosed as having a flu, nothing more," said Deveaux-Isaacs, before heading into a meeting at the Ministry of Health.
While The Bahamas is on "high alert" due to the Ebola outbreak, several Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia have restricted travel from West Africa.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus has killed almost 5,000 people, almost exclusively in West Africa.
The government has imposed no such ban, although former Health Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has said the government should consider one.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Delon Brennen recently said it may be "nearly impossible" to prevent at least one case of the deadly Ebola virus from entering The Bahamas.
Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez has said his ministry has developed a detailed preparedness plan it hopes would prevent local spread of the disease.
Prime Minister Perry Christie recently said despite the "major challenges" associated with policing the country's vast borders, the government has taken "all reasonable steps to protect the country" from the virus.
He said he is satisfied with the plan in place.
The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) would be the primary facility for a medical response, according to Gomez.
The plan notes the possibility that a "small number" of Ebola cases could be introduced through international travel has been identified as the most likely scenario that The Bahamas would face as it relates to the spread of Ebola.

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