News: Ebola tests come back negative for woman from Sierra Leone held at Scottish immigration removal centre

Tests for a woman from Sierra Leone showing symptoms of Ebola have come back negative after she was held at a Scottish immigration removal centre.

The woman was detained at Dungavel Detention Centre in South Lanarkshire after she fell ill and was taken to hospital where doctors carried out tests.

Health chiefs confirmed last night that she did not have the disease. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'The results have now been returned and they have confirmed that she tested negative'.

She was placed in isolation in the infectious diseases ward of a Lanarkshire hospital until the results became known.

It is understood she was treated at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, while limited numbers of staff were allowed in contact with the patient.

The detention centre near the town of Strathaven is used as a holding unit for failed asylum seekers waiting deportation.

Officials from the Home Office suspended the detention or release of people from the unit during the investigation to islolate the risk in case it was positive.

Health officials across the UK were alerted to the situation and a full emergency plan was prepared.

The latest Ebola epidemic in Africa began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

A woman lies sick in bed while awaiting transport from her home in Liberia to an Ebola isolation ward.

The Dungavel Detention Centre in South Lanarkshire where the woman was being held before undergoing tests