Patient in New York tested for possible Ebola virus

A patient at a New York City hospital has been isolated and is now undergoing medical tests for possible Ebola virus, the hospital said in a statement on Monday.

The man with high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms stepped into the Mount Sinai Hospital's Emergency Department in New York City early Monday morning, and told doctors that he had recently traveled to a west African country where Ebola has been reported, the hospital said.

The patient has been placed in strict isolation and is undergoing medical screenings to determine the cause of his symptoms, the hospital said.

"All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff," the hospital said in statement. "We will continue to work closely with federal, state and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed and provide the best quality care to all of our patients," it added.

The Ebola outbreak, which is by far the largest in the 40-year or so history of the disease, has killed some 900 people and affected around 1,600 this year in four western African countries - - Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organization.

Ebola, which spreads through mucous and other body fluid or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people, can kill up to 90 percent of those who become infected, and the fatality rate in the current epidemic is about 60 percent.

One of the two Americans who contracted the Ebola virus while treating patients in Liberia was brought back to the United States for treatment last Saturday. The second one, missionary Nancy Writebol, is expected to arrive in Atlanta within the next few days.

The US government has issued a warning against nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, saying it reflects the "worsening" Ebola outbreak in this region.