A man who presented himself with symptoms associated with Ebola does not have the disease, the Ministry of Health said.

Tests were carried out at Mater Dei Hospital, where the man is being kept in isolation as a precautionary measure.

He was found to be suffering malaria.

The man, a foreign national, flew in from Senegal and a pre-planned emergency procedure kicked in when he revealed his symptoms.

Two rooms had been prepared for the treatment of patients at Mater Dei Hospital for suspected Ebola cases. 

People who were living with the person were assessed and found not to be suffering from any symptoms. As a precautionary measure they are still being kept in quarantine.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne had said last month that he was satisfied with the measures taken by the Health Department in relation to a potential Ebola case in Malta.

Last month the government turned away a ship carrying a patient displaying symptoms associated with Ebola. He was subsequently treated in Sicily for what turned out to be Hepatitis.

In early August a Maltese who had arrived from Sierra Leone was screened as a precaution although he bore no symptoms. Tests proved negative.