A patient with symptoms, similar to those of Ebola, who recently returned from Sierra Leone, is hospitalised in Sofia's Military Hospital, Bulgaria's Health Ministry has confirmed.

According to the reports, seven other people who were in contact with the person are admitted for observation in the Tokuda hospital.

Medical officials however say analyses so far give them no ground to say his condition is caused by Ebola.

Focus agency claims, quoting own sources from the two hospitals, that the person who came back from the African country two days ago, came down with fever, sneezing and rhinitis and went to the Tokuda hospital.

According to the report, on Thursday afternoon the patient was moved to the Military Hospital where were taken blood and secretion samples. They were sent to licensed laboratories in Germany, the UK and the Tropical Diseases Institute in Marseille. The results are expected in 24 hours. Doctors however deny the information that the samples could have been taken anything out of Bulgaria. 

They also say results are to be expected early on Friday.

Later, Dr Mira Kozhuharova, national consultant on epidemiology of infectious diseases said that there is a person who is currently being tested, but the results are due to come out. "In order to diagnose Ebola, we need positive test results," she told the Focus Agency. "We don't have those yet. We only have suspicions, because the person came back from a country with Ebola cases."

In a media statement on Thursday evening, published on its website, the Health Ministry confirmed there is a case of a Bulgarian citizen with flu-like symptoms who returned recently from Sierra Leone.

“The patient was examined and evaluated as a case which must be subjected to clinical observation and additional laboratory tests,” the statement reads. “He is placed in isolation in Sofia's Military Hospital. In accordance with the protocols for action, recommended by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the health authorities took the necessary measures to isolate the persons who were in contact with the patient. Those measures will be in effect until the virology tests come out late this night. The Ministry will keep the public informed in a timely manner.”

Deputy Health Minister Vanyo Sharkov told the Bulgarian National Television it was not very likely for the man to have Ebola.